Novel variant hypocrea jecorina cbh1 cellulase

ABSTRACT

Described herein are variants of  H. jecorina  CBH I, a Cel7 enzyme. The present invention provides novel cellobiohydrolases that have improved thermostability and reversibility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/523,800, filed Jun. 14, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,817, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/107,702, filed May13, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,232,080, which is a division of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/641,678, filed Aug. 15, 2003, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,972,832, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/404,063, filed Aug. 16, 2002 (Attorney Docket No.GC772P), to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/458,853 filed Mar. 27,2003 (Attorney Docket No. GC772-2P), to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/456,368 filed Mar. 21, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. GC793P) and to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/458,696 filed Mar. 27, 2003 (AttorneyDocket No. GC793-2P).

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Portions of this work were funded by Subcontract No. ZCO-0-30017-01 withthe National Renewable Energy Laboratory under Prime Contract No.DE-AC36-99GO10337 with the U.S. Department of Energy. Accordingly, theUnited States Government may have certain rights in this invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to variant cellobiohydrolase enzymes andisolated nucleic acid sequences which encode polypeptides havingcellobiohydrolase activity. The invention also relates to nucleic acidconstructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acidsequences as well as methods for producing recombinant variant CBHpolypeptides.

REFERENCES

-   1. Sheehan and Himmel Biotechnology Progress 15, pp 817-827 (1999)-   2. Matti Linko Proceedings of the Second TRICEL Symposium on    Trichoderma reesei Cellulases and Other Hydrolases pp 9-11 (1993)-   3. Tuula T. Teeri Trends in Biotechnology 15, pp 160-167 (1997)-   4. T. T. Teeri et al. Spec. Publ.-R. Soc. Chem., 246 (Recent    Advances in Carbohydrate Bioengineering), pp 302-308. (1999)-   5. PDB reference 2OVW: Sulzenbacher, G., Schulein, M., Davies, G. J.    Biochemistry 36 pp. 5902 (1997)-   PDB reference 1A39: Davies, G. J., Ducros, V., Lewis, R. J.,    Borchert, T. V., Schulein, M. Journal of Biotechnology 57 pp. 91    (1997)-   7. PDB reference 6CEL: Divne, C., Stahlberg, J., Teed, T. T.,    Jones, T. A. Journal of Molecular Biology 275 pp. 309 (1998)-   8. PDB reference 1EG1: Kleywegt, G. J., Zou, J. Y., Divne, C.,    Davies, G. J., Sinning, I., Stahlberg, J., Reinikainen, T.,    Srisodsuk, M., Teed, T. T., Jones, T. A. Journal of Molecular    Biology 272 pp. 383 (1997)-   9. PDB reference 1DY4 (8CEL): J. Stahlberg, H. Henriksson, C.    Divne, R. Isaksson, G. Pettersson, G. Johansson, T. A. Jones

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellulose and hemicellulose are the most abundant plant materialsproduced by photosynthesis. They can be degraded and used as an energysource by numerous microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and fungi,that produce extracellular enzymes capable of hydrolysis of thepolymeric substrates to monomeric sugars (Aro et al., J. Biol. Chem.,vol. 276, no. 26, pp. 24309-24314, Jun. 29, 2001). As the limits ofnon-renewable resources approach, the potential of cellulose to become amajor renewable energy resource is enormous (Krishna et al., BioresourceTech. 77:193-196, 2001). The effective utilization of cellulose throughbiological processes is one approach to overcoming the shortage offoods, feeds, and fuels (Ohmiya et al., Biotechnol. Gen. Engineer. Rev.vol. 14, pp. 365-414, 1997).

Cellulases are enzymes that hydrolyze cellulose (beta-1,4-glucan or betaD-glucosidic linkages) resulting in the formation of glucose,cellobiose, cellooligosaccharides, and the like. Cellulases have beentraditionally divided into three major classes: endoglucanases (EC3.2.1.4) (“EG”), exoglucanases or cellobiohydrolases (EC 3.2.1.91)(“CBH”) and beta-glucosidases ([beta]-D-glucoside glucohydrolase; EC3.2.1.21) (“BG”). (Knowles et al., TIBTECH 5, 255-261, 1987; Shulein,Methods Enzymol., 160, 25, pp. 234-243, 1988). Endoglucanases act mainlyon the amorphous parts of the cellulose fibre, whereascellobiohydrolases are also able to degrade crystalline cellulose(Nevalainen and Penttila, Mycota, 303-319, 1995). Thus, the presence ofa cellobiohydrolase in a cellulase system is required for efficientsolubilization of crystalline cellulose (Suurnakki, et al. Cellulose7:189-209, 2000). Beta-glucosidase acts to liberate D-glucose units fromcellobiose, cello-oligosaccharides, and other glucosides (Freer, J.Biol. Chem. vol. 268, no. 13, pp. 9337-9342, 1993).

Cellulases are known to be produced by a large number of bacteria, yeastand fungi. Certain fungi produce a complete cellulase system capable ofdegrading crystalline forms of cellulose, such that the cellulases arereadily produced in large quantities via fermentation. Filamentous fungiplay a special role since many yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae,lack the ability to hydrolyze cellulose. See, e.g., Aro et al., 2001;Aubert et al., 1988; Wood et al., Methods in Enzymology, vol. 160, no.9, pp. 87-116, 1988, and Coughlan, et al., “Comparative Biochemistry ofFungal and Bacterial Cellulolytic Enzyme Systems” Biochemistry andGenetics of Cellulose Degradation, pp. 11-30 1988.

The fungal cellulase classifications of CBH, EG and BG can be furtherexpanded to include multiple components within each classification. Forexample, multiple CBHs, EGs and BGs have been isolated from a variety offungal sources including Trichoderma reesei which contains known genesfor 2 CBHs, i.e., CBH I and CBH II, at least 8 EGs, i.e., EG I, EG II,EG III, EGIV, EGV, EGVI, EGVII and EGVIII, and at least 5 BGs, i.e.,BG1, BG2, BG3, BG4 and BG5.

In order to efficiently convert crystalline cellulose to glucose thecomplete cellulase system comprising components from each of the CBH, EGand BG classifications is required, with isolated components lesseffective in hydrolyzing crystalline cellulose (Filho et al., Can. J.Microbiol. 42:1-5, 1996). A synergistic relationship has been observedbetween cellulase components from different classifications. Inparticular, the EG-type cellulases and CBH-type cellulasessynergistically interact to more efficiently degrade cellulose. See,e.g., Wood, Biochemical Society Transactions, 611^(th) Meeting, Galway,vol. 13, pp. 407-410, 1985.

Cellulases are known in the art to be useful in the treatment oftextiles for the purposes of enhancing the cleaning ability of detergentcompositions, for use as a softening agent, for improving the feel andappearance of cotton fabrics, and the like (Kumar et al., TextileChemist and Colorist, 29:37-42, 1997).

Cellulase-containing detergent compositions with improved cleaningperformance (U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307; GB App. Nos. 2,095,275 and2,094,826) and for use in the treatment of fabric to improve the feeland appearance of the textile (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,263, 5,691,178, and5,776,757; GB App. No. 1,358,599; The Shizuoka Prefectural HammamatsuTextile Industrial Research Institute Report, Vol. 24, pp. 54-61, 1986),have been described.

Hence, cellulases produced in fungi and bacteria have receivedsignificant attention. In particular, fermentation of Trichoderma spp.(e.g., Trichoderma longibrachiatum or Trichoderma reesei) has been shownto produce a complete cellulase system capable of degrading crystallineforms of cellulose.

Although cellulase compositions have been previously described, thereremains a need for new and improved cellulase compositions for use inhousehold detergents, stonewashing compositions or laundry detergents,etc. Cellulases that exhibit improved performance are of particularinterest.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an isolated cellulase protein, identified hereinas variant CBH I, and nucleic acids which encode a variant CBH I.

In one embodiment the invention is directed to a variant CBH Icellulase, wherein said variant comprises a substitution or deletion ata position corresponding to one or more of residues S8, Q17, G22, T41,N49, S57, N64, A68, A77, N89, S92, N103, A112, S113, E193, S196, M213,L225, T226, P227, T246, D249, R251, Y252, T255, D257, D259, S278, S279,K286, L288, E295, T296, S297, A299, N301, E325, T332, F338, S342, F352,T356, Y371, T380, Y381, V393, R394, S398, V403, S411, G430, G440, T445,T462, T484, Q487, and P491 in CBH I from Hypocrea jecorina (SEQ ID NO:2). In first aspect, the invention encompasses an isolated nucleic acidencoding a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase activity, whichpolypeptide is a variant of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 7, andwherein said nucleic acid encodes a substitution at a residue which issensitive to temperature stress in the polypeptide encoded by saidnucleic acid, wherein said variant cellobiohydrolase is derived from H.jecorina cellobiohydrolase. In second aspect, the invention encompassesan isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolaseactivity, which polypeptide is a variant of a glycosyl hydrolase offamily 7, and wherein said nucleic acid encodes a substitution at aresidue which is effects enzyme processitivity in the polypeptideencoded by said nucleic acid, wherein said variant cellobiohydrolase isderived from H. jecorina cellobiohydrolase. In third aspect, theinvention encompasses an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptidehaving cellobiohydrolase activity, which polypeptide is a variant of aglycosyl hydrolase of family 7, and wherein said nucleic acid encodes asubstitution at a residue which is effects product inhibition in thepolypeptide encoded by said nucleic acid, wherein said variantcellobiohydrolase is derived from H. jecorina cellobiohydrolase.

In a second embodiment the invention is directed to a variant CBH Icellulose comprising a substitution at a position corresponding to oneor more of residues S8P, Q17L, G22D, T411, N49S, S57N, N64D, A68T, A77D,N89D, S92T, N103I, A112E, S113(T/N/D), E193V, S196T, M213I, L225F,T226A, P227(L/T/A), T246(C/A), D249K, R251A, Y252(A/Q), T255P, D257E,D259W, S278P, S279N, K286M, L288F, E295K, T296P, S297T, A299E,N301(R/K), E325K, T332(K/Y/H), F338Y, S342Y, F352L, T356L, Y371C, T380G,Y381D, V393G, R394A, S398T, V403D, S411F, G430F, G440R, T462I, T484S,Q487L and/or P491L in CBH I from Hypocrea jecorina (SEQ ID NO: 2). Inone aspect of this embodiment the variant CBH I cellulase furthercomprises a deletion at a position corresponding to T445 in CBH I fromHypocrea jecorina (SEQ ID NO: 2). In a second aspect of this embodimentthe variant CBH I cellulase further comprises the deletion of residuescorresponding to residues 382-393 in CBH I of Hypocrea jecorina (SEQ IDNO: 2).

In a third embodiment the invention is directed to a variant CBH Icellulase, wherein said variant comprises a substitution at a positioncorresponding to a residue selected from the group consisting of S8P,N49S, A68T, A77D, N89D, S92T, S113(N/D), L225F, P227(A/L/T), D249K,T255P, D257E, S279N, L288F, E295K, S297T, A299E, N301K, T332(K/Y/H),F338Y, T356L, V393G, G430F in CBH I from Hypocrea jecorina (SEQ ID NO:2).

In a fourth embodiment the invention is directed to a variant CBH Iconsists essentially of the mutations selected from the group consistingof

-   -   i. A112E/T226A;    -   ii. S196T/S411F;    -   iii. E295K/S398T;    -   iv. T246C/Y371C;    -   v. T41I plus deletion at T445    -   vi. A68T/G440R/P491L;    -   vii. G22D/S278P/T296P;    -   viii. T246A/R251A/Y252A;    -   ix. T380G/Y381D/R394A;    -   x. T380G/Y381D/R394A plus deletion of 382-393, inclusive;    -   xi. Y252Q/D259W/S342Y;    -   xii. S113T/T255P/K286M;    -   xiii. P227L/E325K/Q487L;    -   xiv. P227T/T484S/F352L;    -   xv. Q17L/E193V/M2131/F352L;    -   xvi. S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N;    -   xvii. S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L;    -   xviii. T41I/A112E/P227L/S278P/T296P;    -   xix. S8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/T226A;    -   xx. S8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227L;    -   xxi. S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227L;    -   xxii. G22D/N495/A68T/P227L/S278P/T296P;    -   xxiii. S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296P;    -   xxiv. G22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296P;    -   xxv. G22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/A112E/P227L/S278P/T296P;    -   xxvi. G22D/N49S/N64D/A68T/N103I/S113N/S278P/T296P;    -   xxvii.        S8P/G22D/T411/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P;    -   xxviii.        S8P/G22D/T411/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296P/N301R;    -   xxix.        S8P/G22D/T411/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N301R    -   xxx. S8P/G22D/T411/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N30        1R;    -   xxxi. S8P/T411/N49S/S57N/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N30        1R;    -   xxxii. S8P/G22 D/T411/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/N301R;    -   xxxiii. S8P/T411/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/V403D/T462I;    -   xxxiv.        S8P/G22D/T411/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/V403D/T462I;    -   xxxv. S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S411F;    -   xxxvi. S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S411F;    -   xxxvii.        S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/S411F;    -   xxxviii.        S8P/T411/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/V403D/S411F/T462I;    -   xxxix.        S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/V403D/S411F/T462I;        in CBH I from Hypocrea jecorina (SEQ ID NO:2).

In an fifth embodiment the invention is directed to a vector comprisinga nucleic acid encoding a variant CBH I. In another aspect there is aconstruct comprising the nucleic acid of encoding the variant CBH Ioperably linked to a regulatory sequence.

In a sixth embodiment the invention is directed to a host celltransformed with the vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a CBH Ivariant.

In a seventh embodiment the invention is directed to a method ofproducing a CBH I variant comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) culturing a host cell transformed with the vector comprising        a nucleic acid encoding a CBH I variant in a suitable culture        medium under suitable conditions to produce CBH I variant;    -   (b) obtaining said produced CBH I variant.

In an eighth embodiment the invention is directed to a detergentcomposition comprising a surfactant and a CBH I variant. In one aspectof this embodiment the detergent is a laundry detergent. In a secondaspect of this embodiment the detergent is a dish detergent. In thirdaspect of this invention, the variant CBH I cellulase is used in thetreatment of a cellulose containing textile, in particular, in thestonewashing or indigo dyed denim.

In a ninth embodiment the invention is directed to a feed additivecomprising a CBH I variant.

In a tenth embodiment the invention is directed to a method of treatingwood pulp comprising contacting said wood pulp with a CBH I variant.

In a eleventh embodiment the invention is directed to a method ofconverting biomass to sugars comprising contacting said biomass with aCBH I variant.

In an embodiment, the cellulase is derived from a fungus, bacteria orActinomycete.

In another aspect, the cellulase is derived from a fungus. In a mostpreferred embodiment, the fungus is a filamentous fungus. It ispreferred the filamentous fungus belong to Euascomycete, in particular,Aspergillus spp., Gliocladium spp., Fusarium spp., Acremonium spp.,Myceliophtora spp., Verticillium spp., Myrothecium spp., or Penicilliumspp. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the cellulase is acellobiohydrolase.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the scope and spirit of the invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the nucleic acid (lower line; SEQ ID NO: 1) and amino acid(upper line; SEQ ID NO: 2) sequence of the wild type Cel7A (CBH I) fromH. jecorina.

FIG. 2 is the 3-D structure of H. jecorina CBH I.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the amino acid alignment of the Cel7 family membersfor which there were crystal structures available. The sequences are:2OVW—Fusarium oxysporum Cel7B (SEQ ID NO:32), 1A39—Humicola insolensCel7B (SEQ ID NO:33), 6CEL—Hypocrea jecorina Cel7A (SEQ ID NO:34),1EG1—Hypocrea jecorina Cel7B (SEQ ID NO:35), and the consensus sequence(SEQ ID NO:77).

FIG. 4 illustrates the crystal structures from the catalytic domains ofthese four Cel7 homologues aligned and overlayed as described herein.

FIG. 5 A-M is the nucleic acid sequence and deduced amino acid sequencefor eight single residue mutations and five multiple mutation variants(SEQ ID NOs:5-30).

FIG. 6 A-D is the nucleic acid sequence for pTrex2 (SEQ ID NO:31).

FIG. 7 A & B depicts the construction of the expression plasmid pTEX.

FIG. 8 A-K is the amino acid alignment of all 42 members of the Cel7family (SEQ ID NOs:32-73), and the consensus sequence, which is SEQ IDNO:74.

FIG. 9A is a representation of the thermal profiles of the wild type andeight single residue variants. FIG. 9B is a representation of thethermal profiles of the wild type and five variants. Legend for FIG. 9B:Cel7A=wild-type H. jecorina CBH 1; N301K=N301K variant; 334=P227Lvariant; 340=S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N variant; 350=S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227Lvariant; and 363=S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296Pvariant.

FIG. 10 is the pRAX1 vector. This vector is based on the plasmid pGAPT2except a 5259 bp HindIII fragment of Aspergillus nidulans genomic DNAfragment AMA1 sequence (Molecular Microbiology 1996 19:565-574) wasinserted. Base 1 to 1134 contains Aspergillus niger glucoamylase genepromoter. Base 3098 to 3356 and 4950 to 4971 contains Aspergillus nigerglucoamylase terminator. Aspergillus nidulans pyrG gene was insertedfrom 3357 to 4949 as a marker for fungal transformation. There is amultiple cloning site (MCS) into which genes may be inserted.

FIG. 11 is the pRAXdes2 vector backbone. This vector is based on theplasmid vector pRAX1. A Gateway cassette has been inserted into pRAX1vector (indicated by the arrow on the interior of the circular plasmid).This cassette contains recombination sequence attR1 and attR2 and theselection marker catH and ccdB. The vector has been made according tothe manual given in Gateway™ Cloning Technology: version 1 page 34-38and can only replicate in E. coli DB3.1 from Invitrogen; in other E.coli hosts the ccdB gene is lethal. First a PCR fragment is made withprimers containing attB1/2 recombination sequences. This fragment isrecombined with pDONR201 (commercially available from Invitrogen); thisvector contains attP1/2 recombination sequences with catH and ccdB inbetween the recombination sites. The BP clonase enzymes from Invitrogenare used to recombine the PCR fragment in this so-called ENTRY vector,clones with the PCR fragment inserted can be selected at 50 μg/mlkanamycin because clones expressing ccdB do not survive. Now the attsequences are altered and called attL1 and attL2. The second step is torecombine this clone with the pRAXdes2 vector (containing attR1 andattR2 catH and ccdB in between the recombination sites). The LR clonaseenzymes from Invitrogen are used to recombine the insert from the ENTRYvector in the destination vector. Only pRAXCBH1 vectors are selectedusing 100 μg/ml ampicillin because ccdB is lethal and the ENTRY vectoris sensitive to ampicillin. By this method the expression vector is nowprepared and can be used to transform A. niger.

FIG. 12 provides an illustration of the pRAXdes2cbh1 vector which wasused for expression of the nucleic acids encoding the CBH1 variants inAspergillus. A nucleic acid encoding a CBH1 enzyme homolog or variantwas cloned into the vector by homologous recombination of the attsequences.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described in detail by way of reference onlyusing the following definitions and examples. All patents andpublications, including all sequences disclosed within such patents andpublications, referred to herein are expressly incorporated byreference.

Unless defined otherwise herein, all technical and scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which this invention belongs. Singleton, et al.,DICTIONARY OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 2D ED., John Wiley andSons, New York (1994), and Hale & Marham, THE HARPER COLLINS DICTIONARYOF BIOLOGY, Harper Perennial, NY (1991) provide one of skill with ageneral dictionary of many of the terms used in this invention. Althoughany methods and materials similar or equivalent to those describedherein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention,the preferred methods and materials are described. Numeric ranges areinclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise indicated,nucleic acids are written left to right in 5′ to 3′ orientation; aminoacid sequences are written left to right in amino to carboxyorientation, respectively. Practitioners are particularly directed toSambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL (SecondEdition), Cold Spring Harbor Press, Plainview, N.Y., 1989, and Ausubel FM et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NewYork, N.Y., 1993, for definitions and terms of the art. It is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particularmethodology, protocols, and reagents described, as these may vary.

The headings provided herein are not limitations of the various aspectsor embodiments of the invention which can be had by reference to thespecification as a whole. Accordingly, the terms defined immediatelybelow are more fully defined by reference to the specification as awhole.

All publications cited herein are expressly incorporated herein byreference for the purpose of describing and disclosing compositions andmethodologies which might be used in connection with the invention.

I. DEFINITIONS

The term “polypeptide” as used herein refers to a compound made up of asingle chain of amino acid residues linked by peptide bonds. The term“protein” as used herein may be synonymous with the term “polypeptide”or may refer, in addition, to a complex of two or more polypeptides.

“Variant” means a protein which is derived from a precursor protein(e.g., the native protein) by addition of one or more amino acids toeither or both the C- and N-terminal end, substitution of one or moreamino acids at one or a number of different sites in the amino acidsequence, or deletion of one or more amino acids at either or both endsof the protein or at one or more sites in the amino acid sequence. Thepreparation of an enzyme variant is preferably achieved by modifying aDNA sequence which encodes for the native protein, transformation ofthat DNA sequence into a suitable host, and expression of the modifiedDNA sequence to form the derivative enzyme. The variant CBH I enzyme ofthe invention includes peptides comprising altered amino acid sequencesin comparison with a precursor enzyme amino acid sequence wherein thevariant CBH enzyme retains the characteristic cellulolytic nature of theprecursor enzyme but which may have altered properties in some specificaspect. For example, a variant CBH enzyme may have an increased pHoptimum or increased temperature or oxidative stability but will retainits characteristic cellulolytic activity. It is contemplated that thevariants according to the present invention may be derived from a DNAfragment encoding a cellulase variant CBH enzyme wherein the functionalactivity of the expressed cellulase derivative is retained. For example,a DNA fragment encoding a cellulase may further include a DNA sequenceor portion thereof encoding a hinge or linker attached to the cellulaseDNA sequence at either the 5′ or 3′ end wherein the functional activityof the encoded cellulase domain is retained.

“Equivalent residues” may also be defined by determining homology at thelevel of tertiary structure for a precursor cellulase whose tertiarystructure has been determined by x-ray crystallography. Equivalentresidues are defined as those for which the atomic coordinates of two ormore of the main chain atoms of a particular amino acid residue of acellulase and Hypocrea jecorina CBH(N on N, CA on CA, C on C and O on O)are within 0.13 nm and preferably 0.1 nm after alignment. Alignment isachieved after the best model has been oriented and positioned to givethe maximum overlap of atomic coordinates of non-hydrogen protein atomsof the cellulase in question to the H. jecorina CBH I. The best model isthe crystallographic model giving the lowest R factor for experimentaldiffraction data at the highest resolution available.

${R\mspace{14mu} {factor}} = \frac{{\sum\limits_{h}^{\;}{{{Fo}(h)}}} - {{{Fc}(h)}}}{\sum\limits_{h}^{\;}{{{Fo}(h)}}}$

Equivalent residues which are functionally analogous to a specificresidue of H. jecorina CBH I are defined as those amino acids of acellulase which may adopt a conformation such that they either alter,modify or contribute to protein structure, substrate binding orcatalysis in a manner defined and attributed to a specific residue ofthe H. jecorina CBH I. Further, they are those residues of the cellulase(for which a tertiary structure has been obtained by x-raycrystallography) which occupy an analogous position to the extent that,although the main chain atoms of the given residue may not satisfy thecriteria of equivalence on the basis of occupying a homologous position,the atomic coordinates of at least two of the side chain atoms of theresidue lie with 0.13 nm of the corresponding side chain atoms of H.jecorina CBH. The crystal structure of H. jecorina CBH I is shown inFIG. 2.

The term “nucleic acid molecule” includes RNA, DNA and cDNA molecules.It will be understood that, as a result of the degeneracy of the geneticcode, a multitude of nucleotide sequences encoding a given protein suchas CBH I may be produced. The present invention contemplates everypossible variant nucleotide sequence, encoding CBH I, all of which arepossible given the degeneracy of the genetic code.

A “heterologous” nucleic acid construct or sequence has a portion of thesequence which is not native to the cell in which it is expressed.Heterologous, with respect to a control sequence refers to a controlsequence (i.e. promoter or enhancer) that does not function in nature toregulate the same gene the expression of which it is currentlyregulating. Generally, heterologous nucleic acid sequences are notendogenous to the cell or part of the genome in which they are present,and have been added to the cell, by infection, transfection,transformation, microinjection, electroporation, or the like. A“heterologous” nucleic acid construct may contain a control sequence/DNAcoding sequence combination that is the same as, or different from acontrol sequence/DNA coding sequence combination found in the nativecell.

As used herein, the term “vector” refers to a nucleic acid constructdesigned for transfer between different host cells. An “expressionvector” refers to a vector that has the ability to incorporate andexpress heterologous DNA fragments in a foreign cell. Many prokaryoticand eukaryotic expression vectors are commercially available. Selectionof appropriate expression vectors is within the knowledge of thosehaving skill in the art.

Accordingly, an “expression cassette” or “expression vector” is anucleic acid construct generated recombinantly or synthetically, with aseries of specified nucleic acid elements that permit transcription of aparticular nucleic acid in a target cell. The recombinant expressioncassette can be incorporated into a plasmid, chromosome, mitochondrialDNA, plastid DNA, virus, or nucleic acid fragment. Typically, therecombinant expression cassette portion of an expression vectorincludes, among other sequences, a nucleic acid sequence to betranscribed and a promoter.

As used herein, the term “plasmid” refers to a circular double-stranded(ds) DNA construct used as a cloning vector, and which forms anextrachromosomal self-replicating genetic element in many bacteria andsome eukaryotes.

As used herein, the term “selectable marker-encoding nucleotidesequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence which is capable of expressionin cells and where expression of the selectable marker confers to cellscontaining the expressed gene the ability to grow in the presence of acorresponding selective agent, or under corresponding selective growthconditions.

As used herein, the term “promoter” refers to a nucleic acid sequencethat functions to direct transcription of a downstream gene. Thepromoter will generally be appropriate to the host cell in which thetarget gene is being expressed. The promoter together with othertranscriptional and translational regulatory nucleic acid sequences(also termed “control sequences”) are necessary to express a given gene.In general, the transcriptional and translational regulatory sequencesinclude, but are not limited to, promoter sequences, ribosomal bindingsites, transcriptional start and stop sequences, translational start andstop sequences, and enhancer or activator sequences.

“Chimeric gene” or “heterologous nucleic acid construct”, as definedherein refers to a non-native gene (i.e., one that has been introducedinto a host) that may be composed of parts of different genes, includingregulatory elements. A chimeric gene construct for transformation of ahost cell is typically composed of a transcriptional regulatory region(promoter) operably linked to a heterologous protein coding sequence,or, in a selectable marker chimeric gene, to a selectable marker geneencoding a protein conferring antibiotic resistance to transformedcells. A typical chimeric gene of the present invention, fortransformation into a host cell, includes a transcriptional regulatoryregion that is constitutive or inducible, a protein coding sequence, anda terminator sequence. A chimeric gene construct may also include asecond DNA sequence encoding a signal peptide if secretion of the targetprotein is desired.

A nucleic acid is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functionalrelationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNAencoding a secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for a polypeptideif it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in the secretion ofthe polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a codingsequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosomebinding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positionedso as to facilitate translation. Generally, “operably linked” means thatthe DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of asecretory leader, contiguous and in reading frame. However, enhancers donot have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished by ligation atconvenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist, the syntheticoligonucleotide adaptors, linkers or primers for PCR are used inaccordance with conventional practice.

As used herein, the term “gene” means the segment of DNA involved inproducing a polypeptide chain, that may or may not include regionspreceding and following the coding region, e.g. 5′ untranslated (5′ UTR)or “leader” sequences and 3′ UTR or “trailer” sequences, as well asintervening sequences (introns) between individual coding segments(exons).

In general, nucleic acid molecules which encode the variant CBH I willhybridize, under moderate to high stringency conditions to the wild typesequence provided herein as SEQ ID NO:1. However, in some cases a CBHI-encoding nucleotide sequence is employed that possesses asubstantially different codon usage, while the protein encoded by theCBH I-encoding nucleotide sequence has the same or substantially thesame amino acid sequence as the native protein. For example, the codingsequence may be modified to facilitate faster expression of CBH I in aparticular prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression system, in accordancewith the frequency with which a particular codon is utilized by thehost. Te'o, et al. (FEMS Microbiology Letters 190:13-19, 2000), forexample, describes the optimization of genes for expression infilamentous fungi.

A nucleic acid sequence is considered to be “selectively hybridizable”to a reference nucleic acid sequence if the two sequences specificallyhybridize to one another under moderate to high stringency hybridizationand wash conditions. Hybridization conditions are based on the meltingtemperature (Tm) of the nucleic acid binding complex or probe. Forexample, “maximum stringency” typically occurs at about Tm-5° C. (5°below the Tm of the probe); “high stringency” at about 5-10° below theTm; “moderate” or “intermediate stringency” at about 10-20° below the Tmof the probe; and “low stringency” at about 20-25° below the Tm.Functionally, maximum stringency conditions may be used to identifysequences having strict identity or near-strict identity with thehybridization probe; while high stringency conditions are used toidentify sequences having about 80% or more sequence identity with theprobe.

Moderate and high stringency hybridization conditions are well known inthe art (see, for example, Sambrook, et al, 1989, Chapters 9 and 11, andin Ausubel, F. M., et al., 1993, expressly incorporated by referenceherein). An example of high stringency conditions includes hybridizationat about 42° C. in 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDSand 100 μg/ml denatured carrier DNA followed by washing two times in2×SSC and 0.5% SDS at room temperature and two additional times in0.1×SSC and 0.5% SDS at 42° C.

As used herein, “recombinant” includes reference to a cell or vector,that has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleicacid sequence or that the cell is derived from a cell so modified. Thus,for example, recombinant cells express genes that are not found inidentical form within the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell orexpress native genes that are otherwise abnormally expressed, underexpressed or not expressed at all as a result of deliberate humanintervention.

As used herein, the terms “transformed”, “stably transformed” or“transgenic” with reference to a cell means the cell has a non-native(heterologous) nucleic acid sequence integrated into its genome or as anepisomal plasmid that is maintained through multiple generations.

As used herein, the term “expression” refers to the process by which apolypeptide is produced based on the nucleic acid sequence of a gene.The process includes both transcription and translation.

The term “introduced” in the context of inserting a nucleic acidsequence into a cell, means “transfection”, or “transformation” or“transduction” and includes reference to the incorporation of a nucleicacid sequence into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell where the nucleicacid sequence may be incorporated into the genome of the cell (forexample, chromosome, plasmid, plastid, or mitochondrial DNA), convertedinto an autonomous replicon, or transiently expressed (for example,transfected mRNA).

It follows that the term “CBH I expression” refers to transcription andtranslation of the cbh I gene, the products of which include precursorRNA, mRNA, polypeptide, post-translationally processed polypeptides, andderivatives thereof, including CBH I from related species such asTrichoderma koningii, Hypocrea jecorina (also known as Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei or Trichoderma viride) and Hypocreaschweinitzii. By way of example, assays for CBH I expression includeWestern blot for CBH I protein, Northern blot analysis and reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for CBH I mRNA,and endoglucanase activity assays as described in Shoemaker S. P. andBrown R. D. Jr. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1978, 523:133-146) and Schulein(Methods Enzymol., 160, 25, pp. 234-243, 1988).

The term “alternative splicing” refers to the process whereby multiplepolypeptide isoforms are generated from a single gene, and involves thesplicing together of nonconsecutive exons during the processing of some,but not all, transcripts of the gene. Thus a particular exon may beconnected to any one of several alternative exons to form messengerRNAs. The alternatively-spliced mRNAs produce polypeptides (“splicevariants”) in which some parts are common while other parts aredifferent.

The term “signal sequence” refers to a sequence of amino acids at theN-terminal portion of a protein which facilitates the secretion of themature form of the protein outside the cell. The mature form of theextracellular protein lacks the signal sequence which is cleaved offduring the secretion process.

By the term “host cell” is meant a cell that contains a vector andsupports the replication, and/or transcription or transcription andtranslation (expression) of the expression construct. Host cells for usein the present invention can be prokaryotic cells, such as E. coli, oreukaryotic cells such as yeast, plant, insect, amphibian, or mammaliancells. In general, host cells are filamentous fungi.

The term “filamentous fungi” means any and all filamentous fungirecognized by those of skill in the art. A preferred fungus is selectedfrom the group consisting of Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Fusarium,Chrysosporium, Penicillium, Humicola, Neurospora, or alternative sexualforms thereof such as Emericella, Hypocrea. It has now been demonstratedthat the asexual industrial fungus Trichoderma reesei is a clonalderivative of the ascomycete Hypocrea jecorina. See Kuhls et al., PNAS(1996) 93:7755-7760.

The term “cellooligosaccharide” refers to oligosaccharide groupscontaining from 2-8 glucose units and having β-1,4 linkages, e.g.,cellobiose.

The term “cellulase” refers to a category of enzymes capable ofhydrolyzing cellulose polymers to shorter cello-oligosaccharideoligomers, cellobiose and/or glucose. Numerous examples of cellulases,such as exoglucanases, exocellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases, andglucosidases have been obtained from cellulolytic organisms,particularly including fungi, plants and bacteria.

CBH I from Hypocrea jecorina is a member of the Glycosyl HydrolaseFamily 7 (hence Cel 7) and, specifically, was the first member of thatfamily identified in Hypocrea jecorina (hence Cel 7A). The GlycosylHydrolase Family 7 contains both Endoglucanases andCellobiohydrolases/exoglucanases, and that CBH I is the latter. Thus,the phrases CBH I, CBH I-type protein and Cel 7 cellobiohydrolases maybe used interchangeably herein.

The term “cellulose binding domain” as used herein refers to portion ofthe amino acid sequence of a cellulase or a region of the enzyme that isinvolved in the cellulose binding activity of a cellulase or derivativethereof. Cellulose binding domains generally function by non-covalentlybinding the cellulase to cellulose, a cellulose derivative or otherpolysaccharide equivalent thereof. Cellulose binding domains permit orfacilitate hydrolysis of cellulose fibers by the structurally distinctcatalytic core region, and typically function independent of thecatalytic core. Thus, a cellulose binding domain will not possess thesignificant hydrolytic activity attributable to a catalytic core. Inother words, a cellulose binding domain is a structural element of thecellulase enzyme protein tertiary structure that is distinct from thestructural element which possesses catalytic activity. Cellulose bindingdomain and cellulose binding module may be used interchangeably herein.

As used herein, the term “surfactant” refers to any compound generallyrecognized in the art as having surface active qualities. Thus, forexample, surfactants comprise anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactantssuch as those commonly found in detergents. Anionic surfactants includelinear or branched alkylbenzenesulfonates; alkyl or alkenyl ethersulfates having linear or branched alkyl groups or alkenyl groups; alkylor alkenyl sulfates; olefinsulfonates; and alkanesulfonates. Ampholyticsurfactants include quaternary ammonium salt sulfonates, andbetaine-type ampholytic surfactants. Such ampholytic surfactants haveboth the positive and negative charged groups in the same molecule.Nonionic surfactants may comprise polyoxyalkylene ethers, as well ashigher fatty acid alkanolamides or alkylene oxide adduct thereof, fattyacid glycerine monoesters, and the like.

As used herein, the term “cellulose containing fabric” refers to anysewn or unsewn fabrics, yarns or fibers made of cotton or non-cottoncontaining cellulose or cotton or non-cotton containing cellulose blendsincluding natural cellulosics and manmade cellulosics (such as jute,flax, ramie, rayon, and lyocell).

As used herein, the term “cotton-containing fabric” refers to sewn orunsewn fabrics, yarns or fibers made of pure cotton or cotton blendsincluding cotton woven fabrics, cotton knits, cotton denims, cottonyarns, raw cotton and the like.

As used herein, the term “stonewashing composition” refers to aformulation for use in stonewashing cellulose containing fabrics.Stonewashing compositions are used to modify cellulose containingfabrics prior to sale, i.e., during the manufacturing process. Incontrast, detergent compositions are intended for the cleaning of soiledgarments and are not used during the manufacturing process.

As used herein, the term “detergent composition” refers to a mixturewhich is intended for use in a wash medium for the laundering of soiledcellulose containing fabrics. In the context of the present invention,such compositions may include, in addition to cellulases andsurfactants, additional hydrolytic enzymes, builders, bleaching agents,bleach activators, bluing agents and fluorescent dyes, cakinginhibitors, masking agents, cellulase activators, antioxidants, andsolubilizers.

As used herein, the term “decrease or elimination in expression of thecbh1 gene” means that either that the cbh1 gene has been deleted fromthe genome and therefore cannot be expressed by the recombinant hostmicroorganism; or that the cbh1 gene has been modified such that afunctional CBH1 enzyme is not produced by the host microorganism.

The term “variant cbh1 gene” or “variant CBH1” means, respectively, thatthe nucleic acid sequence of the cbh1 gene from H. jecorina has beenaltered by removing, adding, and/or manipulating the coding sequence orthe amino acid sequence of the expressed protein has been modifiedconsistent with the invention described herein.

As used herein, the term “purifying” generally refers to subjectingtransgenic nucleic acid or protein containing cells to biochemicalpurification and/or column chromatography.

As used herein, the terms “active” and “biologically active” refer to abiological activity associated with a particular protein and are usedinterchangeably herein. For example, the enzymatic activity associatedwith a protease is proteolysis and, thus, an active protease hasproteolytic activity. It follows that the biological activity of a givenprotein refers to any biological activity typically attributed to thatprotein by those of skill in the art.

As used herein, the term “enriched” means that the CBH is found in aconcentration that is greater relative to the CBH concentration found ina wild-type, or naturally occurring, fungal cellulase composition. Theterms enriched, elevated and enhanced may be used interchangeablyherein.

A wild type fungal cellulase composition is one produced by a naturallyoccurring fungal source and which comprises one or more BGL, CBH and EGcomponents wherein each of these components is found at the ratioproduced by the fungal source. Thus, an enriched CBH composition wouldhave CBH at an altered ratio wherein the ratio of CBH to other cellulasecomponents (i.e., EGs, beta-glucosidases and other endoglucanases) iselevated. This ratio may be increased by either increasing CBH ordecreasing (or eliminating) at least one other component by any meansknown in the art.

Thus, to illustrate, a naturally occurring cellulase system may bepurified into substantially pure components by recognized separationtechniques well published in the literature, including ion exchangechromatography at a suitable pH, affinity chromatography, size exclusionand the like. For example, in ion exchange chromatography (usually anionexchange chromatography), it is possible to separate the cellulasecomponents by eluting with a pH gradient, or a salt gradient, or both apH and a salt gradient. The purified CBH may then be added to theenzymatic solution resulting in an enriched CBH solution. It is alsopossible to elevate the amount of CBH I produced by a microbe usingmolecular genetics methods to overexpress the gene encoding CBH,possibly in conjunction with deletion of one or more genes encodingother cellulases.

Fungal cellulases may contain more than one CBH component. The differentcomponents generally have different isoelectric points which allow fortheir separation via ion exchange chromatography and the like. Either asingle CBH component or a combination of CBH components may be employedin an enzymatic solution.

When employed in enzymatic solutions, the homolog or variant CBH1component is generally added in an amount sufficient to allow thehighest rate of release of soluble sugars from the biomass. The amountof homolog or variant CBH1 component added depends upon the type ofbiomass to be saccharified which can be readily determined by theskilled artisan. However, when employed, the weight percent of thehomolog or variant CBH1 component relative to any EG type componentspresent in the cellulase composition is from preferably about 1,preferably about 5, preferably about 10, preferably about 15, orpreferably about 20 weight percent to preferably about 25, preferablyabout 30, preferably about 35, preferably about 40, preferably about 45or preferably about 50 weight percent. Furthermore, preferred ranges maybe about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent, about 0.5 to about 20 weightpercent, from about 1 to about 10 weight percent, from about 1 to about15 weight percent, from about 1 to about 20 weight percent, from about 1to about 25 weight percent, from about 5 to about 20 weight percent,from about 5 to about 25 weight percent, from about 5 to about 30 weightpercent, from about 5 to about 35 weight percent, from about 5 to about40 weight percent, from about 5 to about 45 weight percent, from about 5to about 50 weight percent, from about 10 to about 20 weight percent,from about 10 to about 25 weight percent, from about 10 to about 30weight percent, from about 10 to about 35 weight percent, from about 10to about 40 weight percent, from about 10 to about 45 weight percent,from about 10 to about 50 weight percent, from about 15 to about 20weight percent, from about 15 to about 25 weight percent, from about 15to about 30 weight percent, from about 15 to about 35 weight percent,from about 15 to about 30 weight percent, from about 15 to about 45weight percent, from about 15 to about 50 weight percent.

II. HOST ORGANISMS

Filamentous fungi include all filamentous forms of the subdivisionEumycota and Oomycota. The filamentous fungi are characterized byvegetative mycelium having a cell wall composed of chitin, glucan,chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides, with vegetativegrowth by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism that is obligatelyaerobic.

In the present invention, the filamentous fungal parent cell may be acell of a species of, but not limited to, Trichoderma, e.g., Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii, Trichodermaharzianum; Penicillium sp.; Humicola sp., including Humicola insolensand Humicola grisea; Chrysosporium sp., including C. lucknowense;Gliocladium sp.; Aspergillus sp.; Fusarium sp., Neurospora sp., Hypocreasp., and Emericella sp. As used herein, the term “Trichoderma” or“Trichoderma sp.” refers to any fungal strains which have previouslybeen classified as Trichoderma or are currently classified asTrichoderma.

In one preferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal parent cell is anAspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus aculeatus, orAspergillus nidulans cell.

In another preferred embodiment, the filamentous fungal parent cell is aTrichoderma reesei cell.

III. CELLULASES

Cellulases are known in the art as enzymes that hydrolyze cellulose(beta-1,4-glucan or beta D-glucosidic linkages) resulting in theformation of glucose, cellobiose, cellooligosaccharides, and the like.As set forth above, cellulases have been traditionally divided intothree major classes: endoglucanases (EC 3.2.1.4) (“EG”), exoglucanasesor cellobiohydrolases (EC 3.2.1.91) (“CBH”) and beta-glucosidases (EC3.2.1.21) (“BG”). (Knowles, et al., TIBTECH 5, 255-261, 1987; Schulein,1988).

Certain fungi produce complete cellulase systems which includeexo-cellobiohydrolases or CBH-type cellulases, endoglucanases or EG-typecellulases and beta-glucosidases or BG-type cellulases (Schulein, 1988).However, sometimes these systems lack CBH-type cellulases and bacterialcellulases also typically include little or no CBH-type cellulases. Inaddition, it has been shown that the EG components and CBH componentssynergistically interact to more efficiently degrade cellulose. See,e.g., Wood, 1985. The different components, i.e., the variousendoglucanases and exocellobiohydrolases in a multi-component orcomplete cellulase system, generally have different properties, such asisoelectric point, molecular weight, degree of glycosylation, substratespecificity and enzymatic action patterns.

It is believed that endoglucanase-type cellulases hydrolyze internalbeta-1,4-glucosidic bonds in regions of low crystallinity of thecellulose and exo-cellobiohydrolase-type cellulases hydrolyze cellobiosefrom the reducing or non-reducing end of cellulose. It follows that theaction of endoglucanase components can greatly facilitate the action ofexo-cellobiohydrolases by creating new chain ends which are recognizedby exo-cellobiohydrolase components. Further, beta-glucosidase-typecellulases have been shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of alkyl and/oraryl β-D-glucosides such as methyl β-D-glucoside and p-nitrophenylglucoside as well as glycosides containing only carbohydrate residues,such as cellobiose. This yields glucose as the sole product for themicroorganism and reduces or eliminates cellobiose which inhibitscellobiohydrolases and endoglucanases.

Cellulases also find a number of uses in detergent compositionsincluding to enhance cleaning ability, as a softening agent and toimprove the feel of cotton fabrics (Hemmpel, ITBDyeing/Printing/Finishing 3:5-14, 1991; Tyndall, Textile Chemist andColorist 24:23-26, 1992; Kumar et al., Textile Chemist and Colorist,29:37-42, 1997). While the mechanism is not part of the invention,softening and color restoration properties of cellulase have beenattributed to the alkaline endoglucanase components in cellulasecompositions, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,263, 5,691,178, and5,776,757, which disclose that detergent compositions containing acellulase composition enriched in a specified alkaline endoglucanasecomponent impart color restoration and improved softening to treatedgarments as compared to cellulase compositions not enriched in such acomponent. In addition, the use of such alkaline endoglucanasecomponents in detergent compositions has been shown to complement the pHrequirements of the detergent composition (e.g., by exhibiting maximalactivity at an alkaline pH of 7.5 to 10, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,648,263, 5,691,178, and 5,776,757).

Cellulase compositions have also been shown to degrade cotton-containingfabrics, resulting in reduced strength loss in the fabric (U.S. Pat. No.4,822,516), contributing to reluctance to use cellulase compositions incommercial detergent applications. Cellulase compositions comprisingendoglucanase components have been suggested to exhibit reduced strengthloss for cotton-containing fabrics as compared to compositionscomprising a complete cellulase system.

Cellulases have also been shown to be useful in degradation of cellulasebiomass to ethanol (wherein the cellulase degrades cellulose to glucoseand yeast or other microbes further ferment the glucose into ethanol),in the treatment of mechanical pulp (Pere et al., 1996), for use as afeed additive (WO 91/04673) and in grain wet milling.

Most CBHs and EGs have a multidomain structure consisting of a coredomain separated from a cellulose binding domain (CBD) by a linkerpeptide (Suurnakki et al., 2000). The core domain contains the activesite whereas the CBD interacts with cellulose by binding the enzyme toit (van Tilbeurgh et al., 1986; Tomme et al., Eur. J. Biochem.170:575-581, 1988). The CBDs are particularly important in thehydrolysis of crystalline cellulose. It has been shown that the abilityof cellobiohydrolases to degrade crystalline cellulose clearly decreaseswhen the CBD is absent (Linder and Teed, J. Biotechnol. 57:15-28, 1997).However, the exact role and action mechanism of CBDs is still a matterof speculation. It has been suggested that the CBD enhances theenzymatic activity merely by increasing the effective enzymeconcentration at the surface of cellulose (Stahlberg et al.,Bio/Technol. 9:286-290, 1991), and/or by loosening single cellulosechains from the cellulose surface (Tormo et al., EMBO J. vol. 15, no.21, pp. 5739-5751, 1996). Most studies concerning the effects ofcellulase domains on different substrates have been carried out withcore proteins of cellobiohydrolases, as their core proteins can easilybe produced by limited proteolysis with papain (Tomme et al., 1988).Numerous cellulases have been described in the scientific literature,examples of which include: from Trichoderma reesei: Shoemaker, S. etal., Bio/Technology, 1:691-696, 1983, which discloses CBHI; Teed, T. etal., Gene, 51:43-52, 1987, which discloses CBHII. Cellulases fromspecies other than Trichoderma have also been described e.g., Ooi etal., Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 18, no. 19, 1990, which discloses thecDNA sequence coding for endoglucanase F1-CMC produced by Aspergillusaculeatus; Kawaguchi T et al., Gene 173(2):287-8, 1996, which disclosesthe cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding beta-glucosidase 1 fromAspergillus aculeatus; Sakamoto et al., Curr. Genet. 27:435-439, 1995,which discloses the cDNA sequence encoding the endoglucanase CMCase-1from Aspergillus kawachii IFO 4308; Saarilahti et al., Gene 90:9-14,1990, which discloses an endoglucanase from Erwinia carotovara;Spilliaert R, et al., Eur J. Biochem. 224(3):923-30, 1994, whichdiscloses the cloning and sequencing of bglA, coding for a thermostablebeta-glucanase from Rhodothermus marinu; and Halldorsdottir S et al.,Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 49(3):277-84, 1998, which discloses thecloning, sequencing and overexpression of a Rhodothermus marinus geneencoding a thermostable cellulase of glycosyl hydrolase family 12.However, there remains a need for identification and characterization ofnovel cellulases, with improved properties, such as improved performanceunder conditions of thermal stress or in the presence of surfactants,increased specific activity, altered substrate cleavage pattern, and/orhigh level expression in vitro.

The development of new and improved cellulase compositions that comprisevarying amounts CBH-type, EG-type and BG-type cellulases is of interestfor use: (1) in detergent compositions that exhibit enhanced cleaningability, function as a softening agent and/or improve the feel of cottonfabrics (e.g., “stone washing” or “biopolishing”); (2) in compositionsfor degrading wood pulp or other biomass into sugars (e.g., forbio-ethanol production); and/or (3) in feed compositions.

IV. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

In one embodiment this invention provides for the expression of variantCBH I genes under control of a promoter functional in a filamentousfungus. Therefore, this invention relies on routine techniques in thefield of recombinant genetics. Basic texts disclosing the generalmethods of use in this invention include Sambrook et al., MolecularCloning, A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed. 1989); Kriegler, Gene Transfer andExpression: A Laboratory Manual (1990); and Ausubel et al., eds.,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (1994)).

A. Methods for Identifying Homologous CBH1 Genes

The nucleic acid sequence for the wild type H. jecorina CBH1 is shown inFIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1). The invention, in one aspect, encompasses anucleic acid molecule encoding a CBH1 homolog described herein. Thenucleic acid may be a DNA molecule.

Techniques that can be used to isolate CBH I encoding DNA sequences arewell known in the art and include, but are not limited to, cDNA and/orgenomic library screening with a homologous DNA probe and expressionscreening with activity assays or antibodies against CBH I. Any of thesemethods can be found in Sambrook, et al. or in CURRENT PROTOCOLS INMOLECULAR BIOLOGY, F. Ausubel, et al., ed. Greene Publishing andWiley-Interscience, New York (1987) (“Ausubel”).

B. Methods of Mutating CBH I Nucleic Acid Sequences

Any method known in the art that can introduce mutations is contemplatedby the present invention.

The present invention relates to the expression, purification and/orisolation and use of variant CBH1. These enzymes are preferably preparedby recombinant methods utilizing the cbh gene from H. jecorina.

After the isolation and cloning of the cbh1 gene from H. jecorina, othermethods known in the art, such as site directed mutagenesis, are used tomake the substitutions, additions or deletions that correspond tosubstituted amino acids in the expressed CBH1 variant. Again, sitedirected mutagenesis and other methods of incorporating amino acidchanges in expressed proteins at the DNA level can be found in Sambrook,et al. and Ausubel, et al.

DNA encoding an amino acid sequence variant of the H. jecorina CBH1 isprepared by a variety of methods known in the art. These methodsinclude, but are not limited to, preparation by site-directed (oroligonucleotide-mediated) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis, and cassettemutagenesis of an earlier prepared DNA encoding the H. jecorina CBH1.

Site-directed mutagenesis is a preferred method for preparingsubstitution variants. This technique is well known in the art (see,e.g., Carter et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 13:4431-4443 (1985) and Kunkel etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488 (1987)). Briefly, in carrying outsite-directed mutagenesis of DNA, the starting DNA is altered by firsthybridizing an oligonucleotide encoding the desired mutation to a singlestrand of such starting DNA. After hybridization, a DNA polymerase isused to synthesize an entire second strand, using the hybridizedoligonucleotide as a primer, and using the single strand of the startingDNA as a template. Thus, the oligonucleotide encoding the desiredmutation is incorporated in the resulting double-stranded DNA.

PCR mutagenesis is also suitable for making amino acid sequence variantsof the starting polypeptide, i.e., H. jecorina CBH1. See Higuchi, in PCRProtocols, pp. 177-183 (Academic Press, 1990); and Vallette et al., Nuc.Acids Res. 17:723-733 (1989). See, also, for example Cadwell et al., PCRMethods and Applications, Vol 2, 28-33 (1992). Briefly, when smallamounts of template DNA are used as starting material in a PCR, primersthat differ slightly in sequence from the corresponding region in atemplate DNA can be used to generate relatively large quantities of aspecific DNA fragment that differs from the template sequence only atthe positions where the primers differ from the template.

Another method for preparing variants, cassette mutagenesis, is based onthe technique described by Wells et al., Gene 34:315-323 (1985). Thestarting material is the plasmid (or other vector) comprising thestarting polypeptide DNA to be mutated. The codon(s) in the starting DNAto be mutated are identified. There must be a unique restrictionendonuclease site on each side of the identified mutation site(s). If nosuch restriction sites exist, they may be generated using theabove-described oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis method to introducethem at appropriate locations in the starting polypeptide DNA. Theplasmid DNA is cut at these sites to linearize it. A double-strandedoligonucleotide encoding the sequence of the DNA between the restrictionsites but containing the desired mutation(s) is synthesized usingstandard procedures, wherein the two strands of the oligonucleotide aresynthesized separately and then hybridized together using standardtechniques. This double-stranded oligonucleotide is referred to as thecassette. This cassette is designed to have 5′ and 3′ ends that arecompatible with the ends of the linearized plasmid, such that it can bedirectly ligated to the plasmid. This plasmid now contains the mutatedDNA sequence.

Alternatively, or additionally, the desired amino acid sequence encodinga variant CBH I can be determined, and a nucleic acid sequence encodingsuch amino acid sequence variant can be generated synthetically.

The variant CBH I(s) so prepared may be subjected to furthermodifications, oftentimes depending on the intended use of thecellulase. Such modifications may involve further alteration of theamino acid sequence, fusion to heterologous polypeptide(s) and/orcovalent modifications.

V. CBH1 NUCLEIC ACIDS AND CBH1 POLYPEPTIDES

A. Variant cbh-type Nucleic acids

The nucleic acid sequence for the wild type H. jecorina CBH I is shownin FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1). The invention encompasses a nucleic acidmolecule encoding the variant cellulases described herein. The nucleicacid may be a DNA molecule.

After the isolation and cloning of the CBH I, other methods known in theart, such as site directed mutagenesis, are used to make thesubstitutions, additions or deletions that correspond to substitutedamino acids in the expressed CBH I variant. Again, site directedmutagenesis and other methods of incorporating amino acid changes inexpressed proteins at the DNA level can be found in Sambrook, et al. andAusubel, et al.

After DNA sequences that encode the CBH1 variants have been cloned intoDNA constructs, the DNA is used to transform microorganisms. Themicroorganism to be transformed for the purpose of expressing a variantCBH1 according to the present invention may advantageously comprise astrain derived from Trichoderma sp. Thus, a preferred mode for preparingvariant CBH1 cellulases according to the present invention comprisestransforming a Trichoderma sp. host cell with a DNA construct comprisingat least a fragment of DNA encoding a portion or all of the variantCBH1. The DNA construct will generally be functionally attached to apromoter. The transformed host cell is then grown under conditions so asto express the desired protein. Subsequently, the desired proteinproduct is purified to substantial homogeneity.

However, it may in fact be that the best expression vehicle for a givenDNA encoding a variant CBH1 may differ from H. jecorina. Thus, it may bethat it will be most advantageous to express a protein in atransformation host that bears phylogenetic similarity to the sourceorganism for the variant CBH1. In an alternative embodiment, Aspergillusniger can be used as an expression vehicle. For a description oftransformation techniques with A. niger, see WO 98/31821, the disclosureof which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Accordingly, the present description of a Trichoderma spp. expressionsystem is provided for illustrative purposes only and as one option forexpressing the variant CBH1 of the invention. One of skill in the art,however, may be inclined to express the DNA encoding variant CBH1 in adifferent host cell if appropriate and it should be understood that thesource of the variant CBH1 should be considered in determining theoptimal expression host. Additionally, the skilled worker in the fieldwill be capable of selecting the best expression system for a particulargene through routine techniques utilizing the tools available in theart.

B. Variant CBH1 Polypeptides

The amino acid sequence for the wild type H. jecorina CBH I is shown inFIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1). The variant CBH I polypeptides comprises asubstitution or deletion at a position corresponding to one or more ofresidues S8, Q17, G22, T41, N49, S57, N64, A68, A77, N89, S92, N103,A112, S113, E193, S196, M213, L225, T226, P227, T246, D249, R251, Y252,T255, D257, D259, S278, S279, K286, L288, E295, T296, S297, A299, N301,E325, T332, F338, S342, F352, T356, Y371, T380, Y381, V393, R394, S398,V403, S411, G430, G440, T445, T462, T484, Q487, and P491 in CBH I fromHypocrea jecorina. Furthermore, the variant may further comprises adeletion of residues corresponding to residues 382-393 in CBH I fromHypocrea jecorina.

The variant CBH I's of this invention have amino acid sequences that arederived from the amino acid sequence of a precursor CBH I. The aminoacid sequence of the CBH I variant differs from the precursor CBH Iamino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion or insertion of one ormore amino acids of the precursor amino acid sequence. In a preferredembodiment, the precursor CBH I is Hypocrea jecorina CBH I. The matureamino acid sequence of H. jecorina CBH I is shown in FIG. 1. Thus, thisinvention is directed to CBH I variants which contain amino acidresidues at positions which are equivalent to the particular identifiedresidue in H. jecorina CBH I. A residue (amino acid) of an CBH I homologis equivalent to a residue of Hypocrea jecorina CBH I if it is eitherhomologous (i.e., corresponding in position in either primary ortertiary structure) or is functionally analogous to a specific residueor portion of that residue in Hypocrea jecorina CBH I (i.e., having thesame or similar functional capacity to combine, react, or interactchemically or structurally). As used herein, numbering is intended tocorrespond to that of the mature CBH I amino acid sequence asillustrated in FIG. 1. In addition to locations within the precursor CBHI, specific residues in the precursor CBH I corresponding to the aminoacid positions that are responsible for instability when the precursorCBH I is under thermal stress are identified herein for substitution ordeletion. The amino acid position number (e.g., +51) refers to thenumber assigned to the mature Hypocrea jecorina CBH I sequence presentedin FIG. 1.

The variant CBH1's of this invention have amino acid sequences that arederived from the amino acid sequence of a precursor H. jecorina CBH1.The amino acid sequence of the CBH1 variant differs from the precursorCBH1 amino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion or insertion ofone or more amino acids of the precursor amino acid sequence. The matureamino acid sequence of H. jecorina CBH1 is shown in FIG. 1. Thus, thisinvention is directed to CBH1 variants which contain amino acid residuesat positions which are equivalent to the particular identified residuein H. jecorina CBH1. A residue (amino acid) of an CBH1 variant isequivalent to a residue of Hypocrea jecorina CBH1 if it is eitherhomologous (i.e., corresponding in position in either primary ortertiary structure) or is functionally analogous to a specific residueor portion of that residue in Hypocrea jecorina CBH1 (i.e., having thesame or similar functional capacity to combine, react, or interactchemically or structurally). As used herein, numbering is intended tocorrespond to that of the mature CBH1 amino acid sequence as illustratedin FIG. 1. In addition to locations within the precursor CBH1, specificresidues in the precursor CBH1 corresponding to the amino acid positionsthat are responsible for instability when the precursor CBH1 is underthermal stress are identified herein for substitution or deletion. Theamino acid position number (e.g., +51) refers to the number assigned tothe mature Hypocrea jecorina CBH1 sequence presented in FIG. 1.

Alignment of amino acid sequences to determine homology is preferablydetermined by using a “sequence comparison algorithm.” Optimal alignmentof sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the localhomology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981),by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol.48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman,Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerizedimplementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA inthe Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), by visual inspection or MOE by ChemicalComputing Group, Montreal Canada.

An example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining sequencesimilarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described in Altschul, etal., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). Software for performing BLASTanalyses is publicly available through the National Center forBiotechnology Information (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This algorithm involvesfirst identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifyingshort words of length W in the query sequence that either match orsatisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a wordof the same length in a database sequence. These initial neighborhoodword hits act as starting points to find longer HSPs containing them.The word hits are expanded in both directions along each of the twosequences being compared for as far as the cumulative alignment scorecan be increased. Extension of the word hits is stopped when: thecumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from a maximumachieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below; or the endof either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, andX determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTprogram uses as defaults a word length (W) of 11, the BLOSUM62 scoringmatrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915(1989)) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M′5, N′-4, and acomparison of both strands.

The BLAST algorithm then performs a statistical analysis of thesimilarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul, Proc.Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarityprovided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)),which provides an indication of the probability by which a match betweentwo nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. Forexample, an amino acid sequence is considered similar to a protease ifthe smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test amino acidsequence to a protease amino acid sequence is less than about 0.1, morepreferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about0.001.

Additional specific strategies for modifying stability of CBH1cellulases are provided below:

(1) Decreasing the entropy of main-chain unfolding may introducestability to the enzyme. For example, the introduction of prolineresidues may significantly stabilize the protein by decreasing theentropy of the unfolding (see, e.g., Watanabe, et al., Eur. J. Biochem.226:277-283 (1994)). Similarly, glycine residues have no β-carbon, andthus have considerably greater backbone conformational freedom than manyother residues. Replacement of glycines, preferably with alanines, mayreduce the entropy of unfolding and improve stability (see, e.g.,Matthews, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84; 6663-6667 (1987)).Additionally, by shortening external loops it may be possible to improvestability. It has been observed that hyperthermophile produced proteinshave shorter external loops than their mesophilic homologues (see, e.g.,Russel, et al., Current Opinions in Biotechnology 6:370-374 (1995)). Theintroduction of disulfide bonds may also be effective to stabilizedistinct tertiary structures in relation to each other. Thus, theintroduction of cysteines at residues accessible to existing cysteinesor the introduction of pairs of cysteines that could form disulfidebonds would alter the stability of a CBH1 variant.

(2) Decreasing internal cavities by increasing side-chain hydrophobicitymay alter the stability of an enzyme. Reducing the number and volume ofinternal cavities increases the stability of enzyme by maximizinghydrophobic interactions and reducing packing defects (see, e.g.,Matthews, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:139-160 (1993); Burley, et al., Science229:23-29 (1985); Zuber, Biophys. Chem. 29:171-179 (1988); Kellis, etal., Nature 333:784-786 (1988)). It is known that multimeric proteinsfrom thermophiles often have more hydrophobic sub-unit interfaces withgreater surface complementarity than their mesophilic counterparts(Russel, et al., supra). This principle is believed to be applicable todomain interfaces of monomeric proteins. Specific substitutions that mayimprove stability by increasing hydrophobicity include lysine toarginine, serine to alanine and threonine to alanine (Russel, et al.,supra). Modification by substitution to alanine or proline may increaseside-chain size with resultant reduction in cavities, better packing andincreased hydrophobicity. Substitutions to reduce the size of thecavity, increase hydrophobicity and improve the complementarity theinterfaces between the domains of CBH1 may improve stability of theenzyme. Specifically, modification of the specific residue at thesepositions with a different residue selected from any of phenylalanine,tryptophan, tyrosine, leucine and isoleucine may improve performance.

(3) Balancing charge in rigid secondary structure, i.e., α-helices andβ-turns may improve stability. For example, neutralizing partialpositive charges on a helix N-terminus with negative charge on asparticacid may improve stability of the structure (see, e.g., Eriksson, etal., Science 255:178-183 (1992)). Similarly, neutralizing partialnegative charges on helix C-terminus with positive charge may improvestability. Removing positive charge from interacting with peptideN-terminus in β-turns should be effective in conferring tertiarystructure stability. Substitution with a non-positively charged residuecould remove an unfavorable positive charge from interacting with anamide nitrogen present in a turn.

(4) Introducing salt bridges and hydrogen bonds to stabilize tertiarystructures may be effective. For example, ion pair interactions, e.g.,between aspartic acid or glutamic acid and lysine, arginine orhistidine, may introduce strong stabilizing effects and may be used toattach different tertiary structure elements with a resultantimprovement in thermostability. Additionally, increases in the number ofcharged residue/non-charged residue hydrogen bonds, and the number ofhydrogen-bonds generally, may improve thermostability (see, e.g.,Tanner, et al., Biochemistry 35:2597-2609 (1996)). Substitution withaspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid or glutamine may introduce ahydrogen bond with a backbone amide. Substitution with arginine mayimprove a salt bridge and introduce an H-bond into a backbone carbonyl.

(5) Avoiding thermolabile residues in general may increase thermalstability. For example, asparagine and glutamine are susceptible todeamidation and cysteine is susceptible to oxidation at hightemperatures. Reducing the number of these residues in sensitivepositions may result in improved thermostability (Russel, et al.,supra). Substitution or deletion by any residue other than glutamine orcysteine may increase stability by avoidance of a thermolabile residue.

(6) Stabilization or destabilization of binding of a ligand that confersmodified stability to CBH1 variants. For example, a component of thematrix in which the CBH1 variants of this invention are used may bind toa specific surfactant/thermal sensitivity site of the CBH1 variant. Bymodifying the site through substitution, binding of the component to thevariant may be strengthened or diminished. For example, a non-aromaticresidue in the binding crevice of CBH1 may be substituted withphenylalanine or tyrosine to introduce aromatic side-chain stabilizationwhere interaction of the cellulose substrate may interact favorably withthe benzyl rings, increasing the stability of the CBH1 variant.

(7) Increasing the electronegativity of any of the surfactant/thermalsensitivity ligands may improve stability under surfactant or thermalstress. For example, substitution with phenylalanine or tyrosine mayincrease the electronegativity of D (aspartate) residues by improvingshielding from solvent, thereby improving stability.

C. Anti-CBH Antibodies

The present invention further provides anti-CBH antibodies. Theantibodies may be polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized, bispecific orheteroconjugate antibodies.

Methods of preparing polyclonal antibodies are known to the skilledartisan. The immunizing agent may be an CBH polypeptide or a fusionprotein thereof. It may be useful to conjugate the antigen to a proteinknown to be immunogenic in the mammal being immunized. The immunizationprotocol may be determined by one skilled in the art based on standardprotocols or routine experimentation.

Alternatively, the anti-CBH antibodies may be monoclonal antibodies.Monoclonal antibodies may be produced by cells immunized in an animal orusing recombinant DNA methods. (See, e.g., Kohler et al., Nature, vol.256, pp. 495-499, Aug. 7, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).

An anti-CBH antibody of the invention may further comprise a humanizedor human antibody. The term “humanized antibody” refers to humanizedforms of non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies that are chimericantibodies, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab,Fab′, F(ab′)₂ or other antigen-binding partial sequences of antibodies)which contain some portion of the sequence derived from non-humanantibody. Methods for humanizing non-human antibodies are well known inthe art, as further detailed in Jones et al., Nature 321:522-525, 1986;Riechmann et al., Nature, vol. 332, pp. 323-327, 1988; and Verhoeyen etal., Science, vol. 239, pp. 1534-1536, 1988. Methods for producing humanantibodies are also known in the art. See, e.g., Jakobovits, A, et al.,Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 764:525-535, 1995 and Jakobovits,A, Curr Opin Biotechnol 6(5):561-6, 1995.

VI. EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANT CBH1 VARIANTS

The methods of the invention rely on the use cells to express variantCBH I, with no particular method of CBH I expression required.

The invention provides host cells which have been transduced,transformed or transfected with an expression vector comprising avariant CBH-encoding nucleic acid sequence. The culture conditions, suchas temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used for theparental host cell prior to transduction, transformation or transfectionand will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In one approach, a filamentous fungal cell or yeast cell is transfectedwith an expression vector having a promoter or biologically activepromoter fragment or one or more (e.g., a series) of enhancers whichfunctions in the host cell line, operably linked to a DNA segmentencoding CBH, such that CBH is expressed in the cell line.

A. Nucleic Acid Constructs/Expression Vectors.

Natural or synthetic polynucleotide fragments encoding CBH I (“CBHI-encoding nucleic acid sequences”) may be incorporated intoheterologous nucleic acid constructs or vectors, capable of introductioninto, and replication in, a filamentous fungal or yeast cell. Thevectors and methods disclosed herein are suitable for use in host cellsfor the expression of CBH I. Any vector may be used as long as it isreplicable and viable in the cells into which it is introduced. Largenumbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known to those of skill inthe art, and are commercially available. Cloning and expression vectorsare also described in Sambrook et al., 1989, Ausubel F M et al., 1989,and Strathern et al., The Molecular Biology of the Yeast Saccharomyces,1981, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.Appropriate expression vectors for fungi are described in van denHondel, C.A.M.J. J. et al. (1991) In: Bennett, J. W. and Lasure, L. L.(eds.) More Gene Manipulations in Fungi. Academic Press, pp. 396-428.The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into a plasmid or vector(collectively referred to herein as “vectors”) by a variety ofprocedures. In general, the DNA sequence is inserted into an appropriaterestriction endonuclease site(s) by standard procedures. Such proceduresand related sub-cloning procedures are deemed to be within the scope ofknowledge of those skilled in the art.

Recombinant filamentous fungi comprising the coding sequence for variantCBH I may be produced by introducing a heterologous nucleic acidconstruct comprising the variant CBH I coding sequence into the cells ofa selected strain of the filamentous fungi.

Once the desired form of a variant cbh nucleic acid sequence isobtained, it may be modified in a variety of ways. Where the sequenceinvolves non-coding flanking regions, the flanking regions may besubjected to resection, mutagenesis, etc. Thus, transitions,transversions, deletions, and insertions may be performed on thenaturally occurring sequence.

A selected variant cbh coding sequence may be inserted into a suitablevector according to well-known recombinant techniques and used totransform filamentous fungi capable of CBH I expression. Due to theinherent degeneracy of the genetic code, other nucleic acid sequenceswhich encode substantially the same or a functionally equivalent aminoacid sequence may be used to clone and express variant CBH I. Thereforeit is appreciated that such substitutions in the coding region fallwithin the sequence variants covered by the present invention. Any andall of these sequence variants can be utilized in the same way asdescribed herein for a parent CBH I-encoding nucleic acid sequence.

The present invention also includes recombinant nucleic acid constructscomprising one or more of the variant CBH I-encoding nucleic acidsequences as described above. The constructs comprise a vector, such asa plasmid or viral vector, into which a sequence of the invention hasbeen inserted, in a forward or reverse orientation.

Heterologous nucleic acid constructs may include the coding sequence forvariant cbh: (i) in isolation; (ii) in combination with additionalcoding sequences; such as fusion protein or signal peptide codingsequences, where the cbh coding sequence is the dominant codingsequence; (iii) in combination with non-coding sequences, such asintrons and control elements, such as promoter and terminator elementsor 5′ and/or 3′ untranslated regions, effective for expression of thecoding sequence in a suitable host; and/or (iv) in a vector or hostenvironment in which the cbh coding sequence is a heterologous gene.

In one aspect of the present invention, a heterologous nucleic acidconstruct is employed to transfer a variant CBH I-encoding nucleic acidsequence into a cell in vitro, with established filamentous fungal andyeast lines preferred. For long-term, production of variant CBH I,stable expression is preferred. It follows that any method effective togenerate stable transformants may be used in practicing the invention.

Appropriate vectors are typically equipped with a selectablemarker-encoding nucleic acid sequence, insertion sites, and suitablecontrol elements, such as promoter and termination sequences. The vectormay comprise regulatory sequences, including, for example, non-codingsequences, such as introns and control elements, i.e., promoter andterminator elements or 5′ and/or 3′ untranslated regions, effective forexpression of the coding sequence in host cells (and/or in a vector orhost cell environment in which a modified soluble protein antigen codingsequence is not normally expressed), operably linked to the codingsequence. Large numbers of suitable vectors and promoters are known tothose of skill in the art, many of which are commercially availableand/or are described in Sambrook, et al., (supra).

Exemplary promoters include both constitutive promoters and induciblepromoters, examples of which include a CMV promoter, an SV40 earlypromoter, an RSV promoter, an EF-1α promoter, a promoter containing thetet responsive element (TRE) in the tet-on or tet-off system asdescribed (ClonTech and BASF), the beta actin promoter and themetallothionine promoter that can upregulated by addition of certainmetal salts. A promoter sequence is a DNA sequence which is recognizedby the particular filamentous fungus for expression purposes. It isoperably linked to DNA sequence encoding a variant CBH I polypeptide.Such linkage comprises positioning of the promoter with respect to theinitiation codon of the DNA sequence encoding the variant CBH Ipolypeptide in the disclosed expression vectors. The promoter sequencecontains transcription and translation control sequence which mediatethe expression of the variant CBH I polypeptide. Examples include thepromoters from the Aspergillus niger, A awamori or A. oryzaeglucoamylase, alpha-amylase, or alpha-glucosidase encoding genes; the A.nidulans gpdA or trpC Genes; the Neurospora crassa cbh1 or trp1 genes;the A. niger or Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase encoding genes;the H. jecorina (T. reesei) cbh1, cbh2, egl1, egl2, or other cellulaseencoding genes.

The choice of the proper selectable marker will depend on the host cell,and appropriate markers for different hosts are well known in the art.Typical selectable marker genes include argB from A. nidulans or T.reesei, amdS from A. nidulans, pyr4 from Neurospora crassa or T. reesei,pyrG from Aspergillus niger or A. nidulans. Additional exemplaryselectable markers include, but are not limited to trpc, trp1, oliC31,niaD or leu2, which are included in heterologous nucleic acid constructsused to transform a mutant strain such as trp-, pyr-, leu- and the like.

Such selectable markers confer to transformants the ability to utilize ametabolite that is usually not metabolized by the filamentous fungi. Forexample, the amdS gene from H. jecorina which encodes the enzymeacetamidase that allows transformant cells to grow on acetamide as anitrogen source. The selectable marker (e.g. pyrG) may restore theability of an auxotrophic mutant strain to grow on a selective minimalmedium or the selectable marker (e.g. olic31) may confer totransformants the ability to grow in the presence of an inhibitory drugor antibiotic.

The selectable marker coding sequence is cloned into any suitableplasmid using methods generally employed in the art. Exemplary plasmidsinclude pUC18, pBR322, pRAX and pUC100. The pRAX plasmid contains AMA1sequences from A. nidulans, which make it possible to replicate in A.niger.

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwiseindicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology, microbiology,recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art.Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, for example,Sambrook et al., 1989; Freshney, Animal Cell Culture, 1987; Ausubel, etal., 1993; and Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology, 1991.

B. Host Cells and Culture Conditions for CBH1 Production

Filamentous Fungi

Thus, the present invention provides filamentous fungi comprising cellswhich have been modified, selected and cultured in a manner effective toresult in variant CBH I production or expression relative to thecorresponding non-transformed parental fungi.

Examples of species of parental filamentous fungi that may be treatedand/or modified for variant CBH I expression include, but are notlimited to Trichoderma, e.g., Trichoderma reesei, Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii; Penicilliumsp., Humicola sp., including Humicola insolens; Aspergillus sp.,Chrysosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Hypocrea sp., and Emericella sp.

CBH I expressing cells are cultured under conditions typically employedto culture the parental fungal line. Generally, cells are cultured in astandard medium containing physiological salts and nutrients, such asdescribed in Pourquie, J. et al., Biochemistry and Genetics of CelluloseDegradation, eds. Aubert, J. P. et al., Academic Press, pp. 71-86, 1988and Ilmen, M. et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:1298-1306, 1997.Culture conditions are also standard, e.g., cultures are incubated at28° C. in shaker cultures or fermenters until desired levels of CBH Iexpression are achieved.

Preferred culture conditions for a given filamentous fungus may be foundin the scientific literature and/or from the source of the fungi such asthe American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; atcc.org). After fungalgrowth has been established, the cells are exposed to conditionseffective to cause or permit the expression of variant CBH I.

In cases where a CBH I coding sequence is under the control of aninducible promoter, the inducing agent, e.g., a sugar, metal salt orantibiotics, is added to the medium at a concentration effective toinduce CBH I expression.

In one embodiment, the strain comprises Aspergillus niger, which is auseful strain for obtaining overexpressed protein. For example A. nigervar awamori dgr246 is known to secrete elevated amounts of secretedcellulases (Goedegebuur et al, Curr. Genet (2002) 41: 89-98). Otherstrains of Aspergillus niger var awamori such as GCDAP3, GCDAP4 andGAP3-4 are known Ward et al (Ward, M, Wilson, L. J. and Kodama, K. H.,1993, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39:738-743).

In another embodiment, the strain comprises Trichoderma reesei, which isa useful strain for obtaining overexpressed protein. For example,RL-P37, described by Sheir-Neiss, et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.20:46-53 (1984) is known to secrete elevated amounts of cellulaseenzymes. Functional equivalents of RL-P37 include Trichoderma reeseistrain RUT-C30 (ATCC No. 56765) and strain QM9414 (ATCC No. 26921). Itis contemplated that these strains would also be useful inoverexpressing variant CBH1.

Where it is desired to obtain the variant CBH I in the absence ofpotentially detrimental native cellulolytic activity, it is useful toobtain a Trichoderma host cell strain which has had one or morecellulase genes deleted prior to introduction of a DNA construct orplasmid containing the DNA fragment encoding the variant CBH I. Suchstrains may be prepared by the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,246,853 and WO 92/06209, which disclosures are hereby incorporated byreference. By expressing a variant CBH I cellulase in a hostmicroorganism that is missing one or more cellulase genes, theidentification and subsequent purification procedures are simplified.Any gene from Trichoderma sp. which has been cloned can be deleted, forexample, the cbh1, cbh2, egl1, and egl2 genes as well as those encodingEG III and/or EGV protein (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,101 and WO94/28117, respectively).

Gene deletion may be accomplished by inserting a form of the desiredgene to be deleted or disrupted into a plasmid by methods known in theart. The deletion plasmid is then cut at an appropriate restrictionenzyme site(s), internal to the desired gene coding region, and the genecoding sequence or part thereof replaced with a selectable marker.Flanking DNA sequences from the locus of the gene to be deleted ordisrupted, preferably between about 0.5 to 2.0 kb, remain on either sideof the selectable marker gene. An appropriate deletion plasmid willgenerally have unique restriction enzyme sites present therein to enablethe fragment containing the deleted gene, including flanking DNAsequences, and the selectable marker gene to be removed as a singlelinear piece.

A selectable marker must be chosen so as to enable detection of thetransformed microorganism. Any selectable marker gene that is expressedin the selected microorganism will be suitable. For example, withAspergillus sp., the selectable marker is chosen so that the presence ofthe selectable marker in the transformants will not significantly affectthe properties thereof. Such a selectable marker may be a gene thatencodes an assayable product. For example, a functional copy of aAspergillus sp. gene may be used which if lacking in the host strainresults in the host strain displaying an auxotrophic phenotype.Similarly, selectable markers exist for Trichoderma sp.

In one embodiment, a pyrG⁻ derivative strain of Aspergillus sp. istransformed with a functional pyrG gene, which thus provides aselectable marker for transformation. A pyrG⁻ derivative strain may beobtained by selection of Aspergillus sp. strains that are resistant tofluoroorotic acid (FOA). The pyrG gene encodesorotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase, an enzyme required for thebiosynthesis of uridine. Strains with an intact pyrG gene grow in amedium lacking uridine but are sensitive to fluoroorotic acid. It ispossible to select pyrG⁻ derivative strains that lack a functionalorotidine monophosphate decarboxylase enzyme and require uridine forgrowth by selecting for FOA resistance. Using the FOA selectiontechnique it is also possible to obtain uridine-requiring strains whichlack a functional orotate pyrophosphoribosyl transferase. It is possibleto transform these cells with a functional copy of the gene encodingthis enzyme (Berges & Barreau, Curr. Genet. 19:359-365 (1991), and vanHartingsveldte et al., (1986) Development of a homologous transformationsystem for Aspergillus niger based on the pyrG gene. Mol. Gen. Genet.206:71-75). Selection of derivative strains is easily performed usingthe FOA resistance technique referred to above, and thus, the pyrG geneis preferably employed as a selectable marker.

In a second embodiment, a pyr4⁻ derivative strain of Hyprocrea sp.(Hyprocrea sp. (Trichoderma sp.)) is transformed with a functional pyr4gene, which thus provides a selectable marker for transformation. Apyr4⁻ derivative strain may be obtained by selection of Hyprocrea sp.(Trichoderma sp.) strains that are resistant to fluoroorotic acid (FOA).The pyr4 gene encodes orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase, anenzyme required for the biosynthesis of uridine. Strains with an intactpyr4 gene grow in a medium lacking uridine but are sensitive tofluoroorotic acid. It is possible to select pyr4⁻ derivative strainsthat lack a functional orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase enzyme andrequire uridine for growth by selecting for FOA resistance. Using theFOA selection technique it is also possible to obtain uridine-requiringstrains which lack a functional orotate pyrophosphoribosyl transferase.It is possible to transform these cells with a functional copy of thegene encoding this enzyme (Berges & Barreau, Curr. Genet. 19:359-365(1991)). Selection of derivative strains is easily performed using theFOA resistance technique referred to above, and thus, the pyr4 gene ispreferably employed as a selectable marker.

To transform pyrG⁻ Aspergillus sp. or pyr4⁻ Hyprocrea sp. (Trichodermasp.) so as to be lacking in the ability to express one or more cellulasegenes, a single DNA fragment comprising a disrupted or deleted cellulasegene is then isolated from the deletion plasmid and used to transform anappropriate pyr Aspergillus or pyr Trichoderma host. Transformants arethen identified and selected based on their ability to express the pyrGor pyr4, respectively, gene product and thus compliment the uridineauxotrophy of the host strain. Southern blot analysis is then carriedout on the resultant transformants to identify and confirm a doublecrossover integration event that replaces part or all of the codingregion of the genomic copy of the gene to be deleted with theappropriate pyr selectable markers.

Although the specific plasmid vectors described above relate topreparation of pyr⁻ transformants, the present invention is not limitedto these vectors. Various genes can be deleted and replaced in theAspergillus sp. or Hyprocrea sp. (Trichoderma sp.) strain using theabove techniques. In addition, any available selectable markers can beused, as discussed above. In fact, any host, e.g., Aspergillus sp. orHyprocrea sp., gene that has been cloned, and thus identified, can bedeleted from the genome using the above-described strategy.

As stated above, the host strains used may be derivatives of Hyprocreasp. (Trichoderma sp.) that lack or have a nonfunctional gene or genescorresponding to the selectable marker chosen. For example, if theselectable marker of pyrG is chosen for Aspergillus sp., then a specificpyrG⁻ derivative strain is used as a recipient in the transformationprocedure. Also, for example, if the selectable marker of pyr4 is chosenfor a Hyprocrea sp., then a specific pyr4⁻ derivative strain is used asa recipient in the transformation procedure. Similarly, selectablemarkers comprising Hyprocrea sp. (Trichoderma sp.) genes equivalent tothe Aspergillus nidulans genes amdS, argB, trpC, niaD may be used. Thecorresponding recipient strain must therefore be a derivative strainsuch as argB⁻, trpC⁻, niaD⁻, respectively.

DNA encoding the CBH I variant is then prepared for insertion into anappropriate microorganism. According to the present invention, DNAencoding a CBH I variant comprises the DNA necessary to encode for aprotein that has functional cellulolytic activity. The DNA fragmentencoding the CBH I variant may be functionally attached to a fungalpromoter sequence, for example, the promoter of the glaA gene inAspergillus or the promoter of the cbh1 or egl1 genes in Trichoderma.

It is also contemplated that more than one copy of DNA encoding a CBH Ivariant may be recombined into the strain to facilitate overexpression.The DNA encoding the CBH I variant may be prepared by the constructionof an expression vector carrying the DNA encoding the variant. Theexpression vector carrying the inserted DNA fragment encoding the CBH Ivariant may be any vector which is capable of replicating autonomouslyin a given host organism or of integrating into the DNA of the host,typically a plasmid. In preferred embodiments two types of expressionvectors for obtaining expression of genes are contemplated. The firstcontains DNA sequences in which the promoter, gene-coding region, andterminator sequence all originate from the gene to be expressed. Genetruncation may be obtained where desired by deleting undesired DNAsequences (e.g., coding for unwanted domains) to leave the domain to beexpressed under control of its own transcriptional and translationalregulatory sequences. A selectable marker may also be contained on thevector allowing the selection for integration into the host of multiplecopies of the novel gene sequences.

The second type of expression vector is preassembled and containssequences required for high-level transcription and a selectable marker.It is contemplated that the coding region for a gene or part thereof canbe inserted into this general-purpose expression vector such that it isunder the transcriptional control of the expression cassettes promoterand terminator sequences.

For example, in Aspergillus, pRAX is such a general-purpose expressionvector. Genes or part thereof can be inserted downstream of the strongglaA promoter.

For example, in Hypocrea, pTEX is such a general-purpose expressionvector. Genes or part thereof can be inserted downstream of the strongcbh1 promoter.

In the vector, the DNA sequence encoding the CBH I variant of thepresent invention should be operably linked to transcriptional andtranslational sequences, i.e., a suitable promoter sequence and signalsequence in reading frame to the structural gene. The promoter may beany DNA sequence that shows transcriptional activity in the host celland may be derived from genes encoding proteins either homologous orheterologous to the host cell. An optional signal peptide provides forextracellular production of the CBH I variant. The DNA encoding thesignal sequence is preferably that which is naturally associated withthe gene to be expressed, however the signal sequence from any suitablesource, for example an exo-cellobiohydrolase or endoglucanase fromTrichoderma, is contemplated in the present invention.

The procedures used to ligate the DNA sequences coding for the variantCBH I of the present invention with the promoter, and insertion intosuitable vectors are well known in the art.

The DNA vector or construct described above may be introduced in thehost cell in accordance with known techniques such as transformation,transfection, microinjection, microporation, biolistic bombardment andthe like.

In the preferred transformation technique, it must be taken into accountthat the permeability of the cell wall to DNA in Hyprocrea sp.(Trichoderma sp.) is very low. Accordingly, uptake of the desired DNAsequence, gene or gene fragment is at best minimal. There are a numberof methods to increase the permeability of the Hyprocrea sp.(Trichoderma sp.) cell wall in the derivative strain (i.e., lacking afunctional gene corresponding to the used selectable marker) prior tothe transformation process.

The preferred method in the present invention to prepare Aspergillus sp.or Hyprocrea sp. (Trichoderma sp.) for transformation involves thepreparation of protoplasts from fungal mycelium. See Campbell et al.Improved transformation efficiency of A. niger using homologous niaDgene for nitrate reductase. Curr. Genet. 16:53-56; 1989. The myceliumcan be obtained from germinated vegetative spores. The mycelium istreated with an enzyme that digests the cell wall resulting inprotoplasts. The protoplasts are then protected by the presence of anosmotic stabilizer in the suspending medium. These stabilizers includesorbitol, mannitol, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and the like.Usually the concentration of these stabilizers varies between 0.8 M and1.2 M. It is preferable to use about a 1.2 M solution of sorbitol in thesuspension medium.

Uptake of the DNA into the host strain, (Aspergillus sp. or Hyprocreasp. (Trichoderma sp.), is dependent upon the calcium ion concentration.Generally between about 10 mM CaCl₂ and 50 mM CaCl₂ is used in an uptakesolution. Besides the need for the calcium ion in the uptake solution,other items generally included are a buffering system such as TE buffer(10 Mm Tris, pH 7.4; 1 mM EDTA) or 10 mM MOPS, pH 6.0 buffer(morpholinepropanesulfonic acid) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It isbelieved that the polyethylene glycol acts to fuse the cell membranesthus permitting the contents of the medium to be delivered into thecytoplasm of the host cell, by way of example either Aspergillus sp. orHyprocrea sp. strain, and the plasmid DNA is transferred to the nucleus.This fusion frequently leaves multiple copies of the plasmid DNAtenderly integrated into the host chromosome.

Usually a suspension containing the Aspergillus sp. protoplasts or cellsthat have been subjected to a permeability treatment at a density of 10⁵to 10⁶/mL, preferably 2×10⁵/mL are used in transformation. Similarly, asuspension containing the Hyprocrea sp. (Trichoderma sp.) protoplasts orcells that have been subjected to a permeability treatment at a densityof 10⁸ to 10⁹/mL, preferably 2×10⁸/mL are used in transformation. Avolume of 100 μL of these protoplasts or cells in an appropriatesolution (e.g., 1.2 M sorbitol; 50 mM CaCl₂) are mixed with the desiredDNA. Generally a high concentration of PEG is added to the uptakesolution. From 0.1 to 1 volume of 25% PEG 4000 can be added to theprotoplast suspension. However, it is preferable to add about 0.25volumes to the protoplast suspension. Additives such as dimethylsulfoxide, heparin, spermidine, potassium chloride and the like may alsobe added to the uptake solution and aid in transformation.

Generally, the mixture is then incubated at approximately 0° C. for aperiod of between 10 to 30 minutes. Additional PEG is then added to themixture to further enhance the uptake of the desired gene or DNAsequence. The 25% PEG 4000 is generally added in volumes of 5 to 15times the volume of the transformation mixture; however, greater andlesser volumes may be suitable. The 25% PEG 4000 is preferably about 10times the volume of the transformation mixture. After the PEG is added,the transformation mixture is then incubated either at room temperatureor on ice before the addition of a sorbitol and CaCl₂ solution. Theprotoplast suspension is then further added to molten aliquots of agrowth medium. This growth medium permits the growth of transformantsonly. Any growth medium can be used in the present invention that issuitable to grow the desired transformants. However, if Pyr⁺transformants are being selected it is preferable to use a growth mediumthat contains no uridine. The subsequent colonies are transferred andpurified on a growth medium depleted of uridine.

At this stage, stable transformants may be distinguished from unstabletransformants by their faster growth rate and the formation of circularcolonies with a smooth, rather than ragged outline on solid culturemedium lacking uridine. Additionally, in some cases a further test ofstability may made by growing the transformants on solid non-selectivemedium (i.e. containing uridine), harvesting spores from this culturemedium and determining the percentage of these spores which willsubsequently germinate and grow on selective medium lacking uridine.

In a particular embodiment of the above method, the CBH I variant(s) arerecovered in active form from the host cell after growth in liquid mediaeither as a result of the appropriate post translational processing ofthe CBH I variant.

(ii) Yeast

The present invention also contemplates the use of yeast as a host cellfor CBH I production. Several other genes encoding hydrolytic enzymeshave been expressed in various strains of the yeast S. cerevisiae. Theseinclude sequences encoding for two endoglucanases (Penttila et al.,Yeast vol. 3, pp 175-185, 1987), two cellobiohydrolases (Penttila etal., Gene, 63: 103-112, 1988) and one beta-glucosidase from Trichodermareesei (Cummings and Fowler, Curr. Genet. 29:227-233, 1996), a xylanasefrom Aureobasidlium pullulans (Li and Ljungdahl, Appl. Environ.Microbiol. 62, no. 1, pp. 209-213, 1996), an alpha-amylase from wheat(Rothstein et al., Gene 55:353-356, 1987), etc. In addition, a cellulasegene cassette encoding the Butyrivibrio fibrisolvensendo-[beta]-1,4-glucanase (END1), Phanerochaete chrysosporiumcellobiohydrolase (CBH1), the Ruminococcus flavefaciens cellodextrinase(CEL1) and the Endomyces fibrilizer cellobiase (Bgl1) was successfullyexpressed in a laboratory strain of S. cerevisiae (Van Rensburg et al.,Yeast, vol. 14, pp. 67-76, 1998).

C. Introduction of an CBH I-Encoding Nucleic Acid Sequence into HostCells

The invention further provides cells and cell compositions which havebeen genetically modified to comprise an exogenously provided variantCBH 1-encoding nucleic acid sequence. A parental cell or cell line maybe genetically modified (i.e., transduced, transformed or transfected)with a cloning vector or an expression vector. The vector may be, forexample, in the form of a plasmid, a viral particle, a phage, etc, asfurther described above.

The methods of transformation of the present invention may result in thestable integration of all or part of the transformation vector into thegenome of the filamentous fungus. However, transformation resulting inthe maintenance of a self-replicating extrachromosomal transformationvector is also contemplated.

Many standard transfection methods can be used to produce Trichodermareesei cell lines that express large quantities of the heterologusprotein. Some of the published methods for the introduction of DNAconstructs into cellulase-producing strains of Trichoderma includeLorito, Hayes, DiPietro and Harman, 1993, Curr. Genet. 24: 349-356;Goldman, VanMontagu and Herrera-Estrella, 1990, Curr. Genet. 17:169-174;Penttila, Nevalainen, Ratto, Salminen and Knowles, 1987, Gene 6:155-164, for Aspergillus Yelton, Hamer and Timberlake, 1984, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 81: 1470-1474, for Fusarium Bajar, Podila andKolattukudy, 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 8202-8212, forStreptomyces Hopwood et al., 1985, The John Innes Foundation, Norwich,UK and for Bacillus Brigidi, DeRossi, Bertarini, Riccardi and Matteuzzi,1990, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 55: 135-138).

Other methods for introducing a heterologous nucleic acid construct(expression vector) into filamentous fungi (e.g., H. jecorina) include,but are not limited to the use of a particle or gene gun,permeabilization of filamentous fungi cells walls prior to thetransformation process (e.g., by use of high concentrations of alkali,e.g., 0.05 M to 0.4 M CaCl₂ or lithium acetate), protoplast fusion oragrobacterium mediated transformation. An exemplary method fortransformation of filamentous fungi by treatment of protoplasts orspheroplasts with polyethylene glycol and CaCl₂ is described inCampbell, E. I. et al., Curr. Genet. 16:53-56, 1989 and Penttila, M. etal., Gene, 63:11-22, 1988.

Any of the well-known procedures for introducing foreign nucleotidesequences into host cells may be used. These include the use of calciumphosphate transfection, polybrene, protoplast fusion, electroporation,biolistics, liposomes, microinjection, plasma vectors, viral vectors andany of the other well known methods for introducing cloned genomic DNA,cDNA, synthetic DNA or other foreign genetic material into a host cell(see, e.g., Sambrook et al., supra). Also of use is theAgrobacterium-mediated transfection method described in U.S. Pat. No.6,255,115. It is only necessary that the particular genetic engineeringprocedure used be capable of successfully introducing at least one geneinto the host cell capable of expressing the heterologous gene.

In addition, heterologous nucleic acid constructs comprising a variantCBH I-encoding nucleic acid sequence can be transcribed in vitro, andthe resulting RNA introduced into the host cell by well-known methods,e.g., by injection.

The invention further includes novel and useful transformants offilamentous fungi such as H. jecorina and A. niger for use in producingfungal cellulase compositions. The invention includes transformants offilamentous fungi especially fungi comprising the variant CBH I codingsequence, or deletion of the endogenous cbh coding sequence.

Following introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid constructcomprising the coding sequence for a variant cbh 1, the geneticallymodified cells can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modifiedas appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants oramplifying expression of a variant CBH I-encoding nucleic acid sequence.The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are thosepreviously used for the host cell selected for expression, and will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

The progeny of cells into which such heterologous nucleic acidconstructs have been introduced are generally considered to comprise thevariant CBH I-encoding nucleic acid sequence found in the heterologousnucleic acid construct.

The invention further includes novel and useful transformants offilamentous fungi such as H. jecorina for use in producing fungalcellulase compositions. The invention includes transformants offilamentous fungi especially fungi comprising the variant cbh 1 codingsequence, or deletion of the endogenous cbh coding sequence.

Stable transformants of filamentous fungi can generally be distinguishedfrom unstable transformants by their faster growth rate and theformation of circular colonies with a smooth rather than ragged outlineon solid culture medium. Additionally, in some cases, a further test ofstability can be made by growing the transformants on solidnon-selective medium, harvesting the spores from this culture medium anddetermining the percentage of these spores which will subsequentlygerminate and grow on selective medium.

VII. ANALYSIS FOR CBH1 NUCLEIC ACID CODING SEQUENCES AND/OR PROTEINEXPRESSION

In order to evaluate the expression of a variant CBH I by a cell linethat has been transformed with a variant CBH I-encoding nucleic acidconstruct, assays can be carried out at the protein level, the RNA levelor by use of functional bioassays particular to cellobiohydrolaseactivity and/or production.

In one exemplary application of the variant cbh 1 nucleic acid andprotein sequences described herein, a genetically modified strain offilamentous fungi, e.g., Trichoderma reesei, is engineered to produce anincreased amount of CBH I. Such genetically modified filamentous fungiwould be useful to produce a cellulase product with greater increasedcellulolytic capacity. In one approach, this is accomplished byintroducing the coding sequence for cbh 1 into a suitable host, e.g., afilamentous fungi such as Aspergillus niger.

Accordingly, the invention includes methods for expressing variant CBH Iin a filamentous fungus or other suitable host by introducing anexpression vector containing the DNA sequence encoding variant CBH Iinto cells of the filamentous fungus or other suitable host.

In another aspect, the invention includes methods for modifying theexpression of CBH I in a filamentous fungus or other suitable host. Suchmodification includes a decrease or elimination in expression of theendogenous CBH.

In general, assays employed to analyze the expression of variant CBH Iinclude, Northern blotting, dot blotting (DNA or RNA analysis), RT-PCR(reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), or in situhybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe (based on thenucleic acid coding sequence) and conventional Southern blotting andautoradiography.

In addition, the production and/or expression of variant CBH I may bemeasured in a sample directly, for example, by assays forcellobiohydrolase activity, expression and/or production. Such assaysare described, for example, in Becker et al., Biochem J. (2001)356:19-30 and Mitsuishi et al., FEBS (1990) 275:135-138, each of whichis expressly incorporated by reference herein. The ability of CBH I tohydrolyze isolated soluble and insoluble substrates can be measuredusing assays described in Srisodsuk et al., J. Biotech. (1997) 57:49-57and Nidetzky and Claeyssens Biotech. Bioeng. (1994) 44:961-966.Substrates useful for assaying cellobiohydrolase, endoglucanase orβ-glucosidase activities include crystalline cellulose, filter paper,phosphoric acid swollen cellulose, cellooligosaccharides,methylumbelliferyl lactoside, methylumbelliferyl cellobioside,orthonitrophenyl lactoside, paranitrophenyl lactoside, orthonitrophenylcellobioside, paranitrophenyl cellobioside.

In addition, protein expression, may be evaluated by immunologicalmethods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells, tissue sectionsor immunoassay of tissue culture medium, e.g., by Western blot or ELISA.Such immunoassays can be used to qualitatively and quantitativelyevaluate expression of a CBH I variant. The details of such methods areknown to those of skill in the art and many reagents for practicing suchmethods are commercially available.

A purified form of a variant CBH I may be used to produce eithermonoclonal or polyclonal antibodies specific to the expressed proteinfor use in various immunoassays. (See, e.g., Hu et al., Mol Cell Biol.vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 5792-5799, 1991). Exemplary assays include ELISA,competitive immunoassays, radioimmunoassays, Western blot, indirectimmunofluorescent assays and the like. In general, commerciallyavailable antibodies and/or kits may be used for the quantitativeimmunoassay of the expression level of cellobiohydrolase proteins.

VIII. ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF RECOMBINANT CBH1 PROTEIN

In general, a variant CBH I protein produced in cell culture is secretedinto the medium and may be purified or isolated, e.g., by removingunwanted components from the cell culture medium. However, in somecases, a variant CBH I protein may be produced in a cellular formnecessitating recovery from a cell lysate. In such cases the variant CBHI protein is purified from the cells in which it was produced usingtechniques routinely employed by those of skill in the art. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to, affinity chromatography (Tilbeurgh etal., FEBS Lett. 16:215, 1984), ion-exchange chromatographic methods(Goya) et al., Bioresource Technol. 36:37-50, 1991; Fliess et al., Eur.J. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 17:314-318, 1983; Bhikhabhai et al., J.Appl. Biochem. 6:336-345, 1984; Ellouz et al., J. Chromatography396:307-317, 1987), including ion-exchange using materials with highresolution power (Medve et al., J. Chromatography A 808:153-165, 1998),hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Tomaz and Queiroz, J.Chromatography A 865:123-128, 1999), and two-phase partitioning(Brumbauer, et al., Bioseparation 7:287-295, 1999).

Typically, the variant CBH I protein is fractionated to segregateproteins having selected properties, such as binding affinity toparticular binding agents, e.g., antibodies or receptors; or which havea selected molecular weight range, or range of isoelectric points.

Once expression of a given variant CBH I protein is achieved, the CBH Iprotein thereby produced is purified from the cells or cell culture.Exemplary procedures suitable for such purification include thefollowing: antibody-affinity column chromatography, ion exchangechromatography; ethanol precipitation; reverse phase HPLC;chromatography on silica or on a cation-exchange resin such as DEAE;chromatofocusing; SDS-PAGE; ammonium sulfate precipitation; and gelfiltration using, e.g., Sephadex G-75. Various methods of proteinpurification may be employed and such methods are known in the art anddescribed e.g. in Deutscher, Methods in Enzymology, vol. 182, no. 57,pp. 779, 1990; Scopes, Methods Enzymol. 90: 479-91, 1982. Thepurification step(s) selected will depend, e.g., on the nature of theproduction process used and the particular protein produced.

IX. UTILITY OF CBH1 AND CBH1

It can be appreciated that the variant cbh nucleic acids, the variantCBH I protein and compositions comprising variant CBH I protein activityfind utility in a wide variety applications, some of which are describedbelow.

New and improved cellulase compositions that comprise varying amountsBG-type, EG-type and variant CBH-type cellulases find utility indetergent compositions that exhibit enhanced cleaning ability, functionas a softening agent and/or improve the feel of cotton fabrics (e.g.,“stone washing” or “biopolishing”), in compositions for degrading woodpulp into sugars (e.g., for bio-ethanol production), and/or in feedcompositions. The isolation and characterization of cellulase of eachtype provides the ability to control the aspects of such compositions.

Variant (or mutant) CBHs with increased thermostability find uses in allof the above areas due to their ability to retain activity at elevatedtemperatures.

Variant (or mutant) CBHs with decreased thermostability find uses, forexample, in areas where the enzyme activity is required to beneutralized at lower temperatures so that other enzymes that may bepresent are left unaffected. In addition, the enzymes may find utilityin the limited conversion of cellulosics, for example, in controllingthe degree of crystallinity or of cellulosic chain-length. Afterreaching the desired extent of conversion the saccharifying temperaturecan be raised above the survival temperature of the de-stabilized CBH I.As the CBH I activity is essential for hydrolysis of crystallinecellulose, conversion of crystalline cellulose will cease at theelevated temperature.

Variant (or mutant) CBHs with increased reversibility, i.e., enhancedrefolding and retention of activity, also find use in similar areas.Depending upon the conditions of thermal inactivation, reversibledenaturation can compete with, or dominate over, the irreversibleprocess. Variants with increased reversibility would, under theseconditions, exhibit increased resistance to thermal inactivation.Increased reversibility would also be of potential benefit in anyprocess in which an inactivation event was followed by a treatment undernon-inactivating conditions. For instance, in a Hybrid Hydrolysis andFermentation (HHF) process for biomass conversion to ethanol, thebiomass would first be incompletely saccharified by cellulases atelevated temperature (say 50° C. or higher), then the temperature wouldbe dropped (to 30° C., for instance) to allow a fermentative organism tobe introduced to convert the sugars to ethanol. If, upon decrease ofprocess temperature, thermally inactivated cellulase reversiblyre-folded and recovered activity then saccharification could continue tohigher levels of conversion during the low temperature fermentationprocess.

In one approach, the cellulase of the invention finds utility indetergent compositions or in the treatment of fabrics to improve thefeel and appearance.

Since the rate of hydrolysis of cellulosic products may be increased byusing a transformant having at least one additional copy of the cbh geneinserted into the genome, products that contain cellulose orheteroglycans can be degraded at a faster rate and to a greater extent.Products made from cellulose such as paper, cotton, cellulosic diapersand the like can be degraded more efficiently in a landfill. Thus, thefermentation product obtainable from the transformants or thetransformants alone may be used in compositions to help degrade byliquefaction a variety of cellulose products that add to the overcrowdedlandfills.

Separate saccharification and fermentation is a process wherebycellulose present in biomass, e.g., corn stover, is converted to glucoseand subsequently yeast strains convert glucose into ethanol.Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation is a process wherebycellulose present in biomass, e.g., corn stover, is converted to glucoseand, at the same time and in the same reactor, yeast strains convertglucose into ethanol. Thus, in another approach, the variant CBH typecellulase of the invention finds utility in the degradation of biomassto ethanol. Ethanol production from readily available sources ofcellulose provides a stable, renewable fuel source.

Cellulose-based feedstocks are comprised of agricultural wastes, grassesand woods and other low-value biomass such as municipal waste (e.g.,recycled paper, yard clippings, etc.). Ethanol may be produced from thefermentation of any of these cellulosic feedstocks. However, thecellulose must first be converted to sugars before there can beconversion to ethanol.

A large variety of feedstocks may be used with the inventive variant CBHand the one selected for use may depend on the region where theconversion is being done. For example, in the Midwestern United Statesagricultural wastes such as wheat straw, corn stover and bagasse maypredominate while in California rice straw may predominate. However, itshould be understood that any available cellulosic biomass may be usedin any region.

A cellulase composition containing an enhanced amount ofcellobiohydrolase finds utility in ethanol production. Ethanol from thisprocess can be further used as an octane enhancer or directly as a fuelin lieu of gasoline which is advantageous because ethanol as a fuelsource is more environmentally friendly than petroleum derived products.It is known that the use of ethanol will improve air quality andpossibly reduce local ozone levels and smog. Moreover, utilization ofethanol in lieu of gasoline can be of strategic importance in bufferingthe impact of sudden shifts in non-renewable energy and petro-chemicalsupplies.

Ethanol can be produced via saccharification and fermentation processesfrom cellulosic biomass such as trees, herbaceous plants, municipalsolid waste and agricultural and forestry residues. However, the ratioof individual cellulase enzymes within a naturally occurring cellulasemixture produced by a microbe may not be the most efficient for rapidconversion of cellulose in biomass to glucose. It is known thatendoglucanases act to produce new cellulose chain ends which themselvesare substrates for the action of cellobiohydrolases and thereby improvethe efficiency of hydrolysis of the entire cellulase system. Therefore,the use of increased or optimized cellobiohydrolase activity may greatlyenhance the production of ethanol.

Thus, the inventive cellobiohydrolase finds use in the hydrolysis ofcellulose to its sugar components. In one embodiment, a variantcellobiohydrolase is added to the biomass prior to the addition of afermentative organism. In a second embodiment, a variantcellobiohydrolase is added to the biomass at the same time as afermentative organism. Optionally, there may be other cellulasecomponents present in either embodiment.

In another embodiment the cellulosic feedstock may be pretreated.Pretreatment may be by elevated temperature and the addition of eitherof dilute acid, concentrated acid or dilute alkali solution. Thepretreatment solution is added for a time sufficient to at leastpartially hydrolyze the hemicellulose components and then neutralized.

The major product of CBHI action on cellulose is cellobiose which isavailable for conversion to glucose by BG activity (for instance in afungal cellulase product). Either by the pretreatment of the cellulosicbiomass or by the enzymatic action on the biomass, other sugars, inaddition to glucose and cellobiose, can be made available from thebiomass. The hemi-cellulose content of the biomass can be converted (byhemi-cellulases) to sugars such as xylose, galactose, mannose andarabinose. Thus, in a biomass conversion process, enzymaticsaccharification can produce sugars that are made available forbiological or chemical conversions to other intermediates orend-products. Therefore, the sugars generated from biomass find use in avariety of processes in addition to the generation of ethanol. Examplesof such conversions are fermentation of glucose to ethanol (as reviewedby M. E. Himmel et al. pp 2-45, in “Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass”,ACS Symposium Series 666, ed B. C. Saha and J. Woodward, 1997) and otherbiological conversions of glucose to 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate (U.S. Pat.No. 6,599,722), lactic acid (R. Datta and S-P. Tsai pp 224-236, ibid),succinate (R. R. Gokarn, M. A. Eiteman and J. Sridhar pp 237-263, ibid),1,3-propanediol (A-P. Zheng, H. Biebl and W-D. Deckwer pp 264-279,ibid), 2,3-butanediol (C. S. Gong, N. Cao and G. T. Tsao pp 280-293,ibid), and the chemical and biological conversions of xylose to xylitol(B. C. Saha and R. J. Bothast pp 307-319, ibid). See also, for example,WO 98/21339.

The detergent compositions of this invention may employ besides thecellulase composition (irrespective of the cellobiohydrolase content,i.e., cellobiohydrolase-free, substantially cellobiohydrolase-free, orcellobiohydrolase enhanced), a surfactant, including anionic, non-ionicand ampholytic surfactants, a hydrolase, building agents, bleachingagents, bluing agents and fluorescent dyes, caking inhibitors,solubilizers, cationic surfactants and the like. All of these componentsare known in the detergent art. The cellulase composition as describedabove can be added to the detergent composition either in a liquiddiluent, in granules, in emulsions, in gels, in pastes, and the like.Such forms are well known to the skilled artisan. When a solid detergentcomposition is employed, the cellulase composition is preferablyformulated as granules. Preferably, the granules can be formulated so asto contain a cellulase protecting agent. For a more thorough discussion,see U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,782 entitled “Detergent compositions containingcellulase compositions deficient in CBH I type components,” which isincorporated herein by reference.

Preferably the cellulase compositions are employed from about 0.00005weight percent to about 5 weight percent relative to the total detergentcomposition. More preferably, the cellulase compositions are employedfrom about 0.0002 weight percent to about 2 weight percent relative tothe total detergent composition.

In addition the variant cbh I nucleic acid sequence finds utility in theidentification and characterization of related nucleic acid sequences. Anumber of techniques useful for determining (predicting or confirming)the function of related genes or gene products include, but are notlimited to, (A) DNA/RNA analysis, such as (1) overexpression, ectopicexpression, and expression in other species; (2) gene knock-out (reversegenetics, targeted knock-out, viral induced gene silencing (VIGS, seeBaulcombe, 100 Years of Virology, Calisher and Horzinek eds.,Springer-Verlag, New York, N.Y. 15:189-201, 1999); (3) analysis of themethylation status of the gene, especially flanking regulatory regions;and (4) in situ hybridization; (B) gene product analysis such as (1)recombinant protein expression; (2) antisera production, (3)immunolocalization; (4) biochemical assays for catalytic or otheractivity; (5) phosphorylation status; and (6) interaction with otherproteins via yeast two-hybrid analysis; (C) pathway analysis, such asplacing a gene or gene product within a particular biochemical orsignaling pathway based on its overexpression phenotype or by sequencehomology with related genes; and (D) other analyses which may also beperformed to determine or confirm the participation of the isolated geneand its product in a particular metabolic or signaling pathway, and helpdetermine gene function.

All patents, patent applications, articles and publications mentionedherein, are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is described in further detain in the followingexamples which are not in any way intended to limit the scope of theinvention as claimed. The attached Figures are meant to be considered asintegral parts of the specification and description of the invention.All references cited are herein specifically incorporated by referencefor all that is described therein.

Example 1 Alignment of Known Cel7A Cellulases

The choice of several of the mutations was determined by first aligningHypocrea jecorina Cel7A to its 41 family members using structuralinformation and a modeling program. The alignment of the primary aminoacid sequence of all 42 family members is shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNOs:32-73); with the consensus shown in SEQ ID NO:74.

For four of the members (i.e., 20VW.1, 1A39, 6CEL and 1EG1.1), thecrystal structure had been previously determined. The 4 aligned proteinsfor which there were published structures had their alignment locked forall residues whose backbone atoms were within a specific RMS deviation(RMS less than or equal to 2.0 A). The tertiary structural alignment ofthe four sequences was performed using MOE version 2001.01 by ChemicalComputing Group, Montreal Canada. The overlapping structural elementswere used to freeze the primary structures of the four sequences. Theremaining 38 sequences then had their primary amino acid structurealigned with the frozen four using MOE with secondary structureprediction on and other parameters set to their default settings.

Based on the alignments, various single and multiple amino acidmutations were made in the protein by site mutagenesis.

Single amino acid mutations were based on the following rationale (seealso Table 1): After examining the conservation of amino acids betweenthe homologues, sites were picked in the H. jecorina sequence where astatistical preference for another amino acid was seen amongst the other41 sequences (e.g.: at position 77 the Ala, only present in H. jecorinaand 3 other homologues, was changed to Asp, present in 22 others). Theeffect of each substitution on the structure was then modeled.

TABLE 1 Cel7A Variants and Rationale for Change Cel7A Variants andRationale for Change Tm ΔTm Wild Type H. jecorina 62.5 (4)A77D(22) 3possible H-bonds to Q7 and I80 62.2 −0.3 (7)S113D(18) numerous newH-bonds to backbone 62.8 0.3 to stabilize turn (8)L225F(13) betterinternal packing 61.6 −0.9 (5)L288F(17) better internal packing 62.4−0.1 (1)A299E(24) extra ligand to cobalt atom observed 61.2 −1.3 incrystal structure (4)N301K(11) salt bridges to E295 and E325 63.5 1.0(5)T356L(20) better internal packing 62.6 0.1 (2)G430F(17) bettersurface packing 61.7 −0.8

Multiple amino acid mutations were based on a desire to affect thestability, processivity, and product inhibition of the enzyme. Thefollowing multiple site changes in the H. jecorina sequence wereconstructed:

-   -   1) Thr 246 Cys+Tyr 371 Cys    -   2) Thr 246 Ala+Arg 251 Ala+Tyr 252 Ala    -   3) Thr 380 Gly+Tyr 381 Asp+Arg 394 Ala+deletion of Residues 382        to 393, inclusive    -   4) Thr 380 Gly+Tyr 381 Asp+Arg 394 Ala    -   5) Tyr 252 Gln+Asp 259 Trp+Ser 342 Tyr

The T246A/R251A/Y252A and the other triple+deletion mutant are bothpredicted to decrease the product inhibition of the enzyme. TheThr246Cys+Tyr371 Cys is predicted to increase the stability of theenzyme and increase the processitivity of it. The D259W/Y252Q/S342Yvariant is predicted to affect the product inhibition of the enzyme.

Other single and multiple mutations were constructed using methods wellknown in the art (see references above) and are presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 H. jecorina CBH I variants Mutations S8P N49S A68T A77D N89DS92T S113N S113D L225F P227A P227L D249K T255P D257E S279N L288F E295KS297T A299E N301K T332K T332Y T332H T356L F338Y V393G G430F T41I (plusdeletion of Thr @ 445) V403D/T462I S196T/S411F E295K/S398T A112E/T226AT246C/Y371C G22D/S278P/T296P S8P/N103I/S113N S113T/T255P/K286MP227L/E325K/Q487L P227T/T484S/F352L T246A/R251A/Y252A T380G/Y381D/R394AY252Q/D259W/S342Y A68T/G440R/P491L Q17L/E193V/M213I/F352LS8P/N49S/A68T/S113N A112E/P227L/S278P/T296P S8P/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113NS8P/N49S/A68T/S278P/T296P G22D/N49S/A68T/S278P/T296PG22D/N103I/S113N/S278P/T296P S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227LS8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/T226A S8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227LT41I/A112E/P227L/S278P/T296P S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227LS8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227L G22D/N49S/A68T/P227L/S278P/T296PG22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/S278P/T296PG22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296PG22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/A112E/P227L/S278P/T296PG22D/N49S/N64D/A68T/N103I/S113N/S278P/T296PS8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S411FS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/S278P/T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/N301RS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S411FS8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/V403D/T462IS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/T296P/N301RS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N301RS8P/T41I/N49S/S57N/A68T/S113N/P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N301RS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/D249K/V403D/T462IS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/D249K/ S278P/T296P/N301RS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/S411FS8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/V403D/S411F/T462IS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/E325K/V403D/S411F/T462I

Example 2 Cloning and Expression of CBHI Variants in H. jecorina

A. Construction of the H. jecorina general-purpose expressionplasmid-PTEX.

The plasmid, pTEX was constructed following the methods of Sambrook etal. (1989), supra, and is illustrated in FIG. 7. This plasmid has beendesigned as a multi-purpose expression vector for use in the filamentousfungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The expression cassette has severalunique features that make it useful for this function. Transcription isregulated using the strong CBH I gene promoter and terminator sequencesfor T. longibrachiatum. Between the CBHI promoter and terminator thereare unique PmeI and SstI restriction sites that are used to insert thegene to be expressed. The T. longibrachiatum pyr4 selectable marker genehas been inserted into the CBHI terminator and the whole expressioncassette (CBHI promoter-insertion sites-CBHI terminator-pyr4 gene-CBHIterminator) can be excised utilizing the unique NotI restriction site orthe unique NotI and NheI restriction sites.

This vector is based on the bacterial vector, pSL1180 (Pharmacia Inc.,Piscataway, N.J.), which is a PUC-type vector with an extended multiplecloning site. One skilled in the art would be able to construct thisvector based on the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 7.

The vector pTrex2L was constructed from pTrex2, a derivative of pTEX.The sequence for pTrex2 is given in FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:31).

The exact plasmid used is not that important as long as the variantprotein is expressed at a useful level. However, maximizing theexpression level by forcing integration at the cbh1 locus isadvantageous.

B. Cloning

Using methods known in the art a skilled person can clone the desiredCBH I variant into an appropriate vector. As noted above, the exactplasmid used is not that important as long as the variant protein isexpressed at a useful level. The following description of thepreparation of one of the inventive variant CBH I enzymes can beutilized to prepare any of the inventive variants described herein.

The variant cbh 1 genes were cloned into the pTrex2L vector.

Construction of plasmid pTrex2L was done as follows: The 6 nucleotidesbetween the unique Sac II and Asc I sites of pTrex2 (SEQ ID NO:78) werereplaced with a synthetic linker (SEQ ID NO:79) containing a BstE II andBamH I sites to produce plasmid Trex2L. The complementary syntheticlinkers

(SEQ ID NO: 75) 21-mer synthetic oligo CBHlink1+: GGTTTGGATCCGGTCACCAGG  and (SEQ ID NO: 76)27-mer synthetic oligo CBHlink−:  CGCGCCTGGTGACCGGATCCAAACCGC were annealed.

The pTrex2 was digested with Sac II and Asc I. The annealed linker (SEQID NO:80) was then ligated into pTrex2 to create pTrex2L. The plasmidwas then digested with an appropriate restriction enzyme(s) and a wildtype CBH I gene was ligated into the plasmid.

Primers were used to introduce the desired mutations into the wild-typegene. It will be understood that any method that results in theintroduction of a desired alteration or mutation in the gene may beused. Synthetic DNA primers were used as PCR templates for mutantconstructions. It is well within the knowledge of the skilled artisan todesign the primers based on the desired mutation to be introduced.

The mutagenic templates were extended and made double stranded by PCRusing the synthetic DNA oligonucleotides. After 25 PCR cycles the finalproduct was primarily a 58 by double stranded product comprising thedesired mutation. The mutagenic fragments were subsequently attached towild-type CBH I fragments and ligated into the plasmid using standardtechniques.

C. Transformation and Expression

The prepared vector for the desired variant was transformed into theuridine auxotroph version of the double or quad deleted Trichodermastrains (see Table 3; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,861,271 and 5,650,322)and stable transformants were identified.

TABLE 3 Transformation/Expression strain CBH I Variant Expression StrainA77D quad-delete strain (1A52) S113D double-delete strain L225Fdouble-delete strain L288F double-delete strain A299E quad-delete strain(1A52) N301K quad-delete strain (1A52) T356L double-delete strain G430Fquad-delete strain (1A52) T246C/Y371C quad-delete strain (1A52)T246A/R251A/Y252A quad-delete strain (1A52) Y252Q/D259W/S342Yquad-delete strain (1A52) T380G/Y381D/R394A quad-delete strain (1A52)T380G/Y381D/R394A quad-delete strain (1A52) plus deletion of 382-393“double-delete” (Δ CBHI & Δ CBHII) and the “quad-delete” (Δ CBHI & ΔCBHII, Δ EGI & Δ EGII) T. reesei host strains

To select which transformants expressed variant CBH I, DNA was isolatedfrom strains following growth on Vogels+1% glucose and Southern blotexperiments performed using an isolated DNA fragment containing only thevariant CBH I. Transformants were isolated having a copy of the variantCBH I expression cassette integrated into the genome of the host cell.Total mRNA was isolated from the strains following growth for 1 day onVogels+1% lactose. The mRNA was subjected to Northern analysis using thevariant CBH I coding region as a probe. Transformants expressing variantCBH I mRNA were identified.

One may obtain any other novel variant CBH I cellulases or derivativethereof by employing the methods described above.

Example 3 Expression of CBH1 Variants in A. niger

The PCR fragments were obtained using the following primers andprotocols

The following DNA primers were constructed for use in amplification ofhomologous CBH1 genes from genomic DNA's isolated from variousmicroorganisms. All symbols used herein for protein and DNA sequencescorrespond to IUPAC IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission codes.

Homologous 5′ (FRG192) and 3′ (FRG193) primers were developed based onthe sequence of CBH1 from Trichoderma reesei. Both primers containedGateway cloning sequences from Invitrogen® at the 5′ of the primer.Primer FRG192 contained attB1 sequence and primer FRG193 contained attB2sequence.

(SEQ ID NO: 3) Sequence of FRG192 without the attB1:ATGTATCGGAAGTTGGCCG  (signal sequence of CBH1 H. jecorina) (SEQ ID NO: 4) Sequence of FRG193 without the attB2:TTACAGGCACTGAGAGTAG  (cellulose binding module of CBH1 H. jecorina)

The H. jecorina CBH I cDNA clone served as template.

PCR conditions were as follows: 10 μL of 10× reaction buffer (10×reaction buffer comprising 100 mM Tris HCl, pH 8-8.5; 250 mM KCl; 50 mM(NH₄)₂SO₄; 20 mM MgSO₄); 0.2 mM each of dATP, dTTP, dGTP, dCTP (finalconcentration), 1 μL of 100 ng/μL genomic DNA, 0.5 μL of PWO polymerase(Boehringer Mannheim, Cat #1644-947) at 1 unit per μL, 0.2 μM of eachprimer, FRG192 and FRG193, (final concentration), 4 μl DMSO and water to100 μL.

Various sites in H. jecorina CBH1 may be involved in the thermostabilityof the variants and the H. jecorina CBH1 gene was therefore subjected tomutagenesis.

The fragments encoding the variants were purified from an agarose gelusing the Qiagen Gel extraction KIT. The purified fragments were used toperform a clonase reaction with the pDONR™201 vector from Invitrogen®using the Gateway™ Technology instruction manual (version C) fromInvitrogen®, hereby incorporated by reference herein. Genes were thentransferred from this ENTRY vector to the destination vector (pRAXdes2)to obtain the expression vector pRAXCBH1.

Cells were transformed with an expression vector comprising a variantCBH I cellulase encoding nucleic acid. The constructs were transformedinto A. niger var. awamori according to the method described by Cao etal (Cao Q-N, Stubbs M, Ngo KQP, Ward M, Cunningham A, Pai E F, Tu G-Cand Hofmann T (2000) Penicillopepsin-JT2 a recombinant enzyme fromPenicillium janthinellum and contribution of a hydrogen bond in subsiteS3 to kcat Protein Science 9:991-1001).

Transformants were streaked on minimal medium plates (Ballance D J,Buxton F P, and Turner G (1983) Transformation of Aspergillus nidulansby the orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase gene of Neurospora crassaBiochem Biophys Res Commun 112:284-289) and grown for 4 days at 30° C.Spores were collected using methods well known in the art (Seefgsc.net/fgn48/Kaminskyj.htm). A. nidulans conidia are harvested inwater (by rubbing the surface of a conidiating culture with a sterilebent glass rod to dislodge the spores) and can be stored for weeks tomonths at 4° C. without a serious loss of viability. However, freshlyharvested spores germinate more reproducibly. For long-term storage,spores can be stored in 50% glycerol at −20° C., or in 15-20% glycerolat −80° C. Glycerol is more easily pipetted as an 80% solution in water.800 μl of aqueous conidial suspension (as made for 4° C. storage) addedto 200 μl 80% glycerol is used for a −80° C. stock; 400 μl suspensionadded to 600 μl 80% glycerol is used for a −20° C. stock. Vortex beforefreezing. For mutant collections, small pieces of conidiating culturescan be excised and placed in 20% glycerol, vortexed, and frozen as −80°C. stocks. In our case we store them in 50% glycerol at −80° C.

A. niger var awamori transformants were grown on minimal medium lackinguridine (Ballance et al. 1983). Transformants were screened forcellulase activity by inoculating 1 cm² of spore suspension from thesporulated grown agar plate into 100 ml shake flasks for 3 days at 37°C. as described by Cao et al. (2000).

The CBHI activity assay is based on the hydrolysis of the nonfluorescent4-methylumbelliferyl-β-lactoside to the products lactose and7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, the latter product is responsible for thefluorescent signal. Pipette 170 μl 50 mM NaAc buffer pH 4.5 in a 96-wellmicrotiter plate (MTP) (Greiner, Fluotrac 200, art. nr. 655076) suitablefor fluorescence. Add 10 μl of supernatant and then add 10 μl of MUL (1mM 4-methylumbelliferyl-R-lactoside (MUL) in milliQ water) and put theMTP in the Fluostar Galaxy (BMG Labtechnologies; D-77656 Offenburg).Measure the kinetics for 16 min. (8 cycles of 120s each) usingλ_(320 nm) (excitation) and λ_(460 nm) (emission) at 50° C. Supernatentshaving CBH activity were then subjected to Hydrophobic InteractionChromatography.

Example 4 Stability of CBH 1 Variants

CBH I cellulase variants were cloned and expressed as above (seeExamples 2 and 3). Cel7A wild type and variants were then purified fromcell-free supernatants of these cultures by column chromatography.Proteins were purified using hydrophobic interaction chromatography(HIC). Columns were run on a BioCAD® Sprint Perfusion ChromatographySystem using Poros® 20 HP2 resin both made by Applied Biosystems.

HIC columns were equilibrated with 5 column volumes of 0.020 M sodiumphosphate, 0.5 M ammonium sulfate at pH 6.8. Ammonium sulfate was addedto the supernatants to a final concentration of approximately 0.5 M andthe pH was adjusted to 6.8. After filtration, the supernatant was loadedonto the column. After loading, the column was washed with 10 columnvolumes of equilibration buffer and then eluted with a 10 column volumegradient from 0.5 M ammonium sulfate to zero ammonium sulfate in 0.02 Msodium phosphate pH 6.8. Cel7A eluted approximately mid-gradient.Fractions were collected and pooled on the basis of reduced, SDS-PAGEgel analysis.

The melting points were determined according to the methods of Luo, etal., Biochemistry 34:10669 and Gloss, et al., Biochemistry 36:5612. Seealso Sandgren at al. (2003) Protein Science 12(4) pp 848.

Data was collected on the Aviv 215 circular dichroism spectrophotometer.The native spectra of the variants between 210 and 260 nanometers weretaken at 25° C. Buffer conditions were 50 mM Bis Tris Propane/50 mMammonium acetate/glacial acetic acid at pH 5.5. The proteinconcentration was kept between 0.25 and 0.5 mgs/mL. After determiningthe optimal wavelength to monitor unfolding, the samples were thermallydenatured by ramping the temperature from 25° C. to 75° C. under thesame buffer conditions. Data was collected for 5 seconds every 2degrees. Partially reversible unfolding was monitored at 230 nanometersin a 0.1 centimeter path length cell. While at 75° C., an unfoldedspectra was collected as described above. The sample was then cooled to25° C. to collect a refolded spectra. The difference between the threespectra at 230 nm was used to assess the variants reversibility.

The thermal denaturation profiles are shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B forwildtype CBH I and various variant CBH I's. See also Table 4.

TABLE 4 Thermal Stability of Variant CBH I cellulases delta % rev H.jecorina CBH I Residue Substitution Tm Tm 230 nm Wild type 62.5 23 S8P63.1 0.6 N49S 63.7 1.2 A68T 63.7 1.2 32 A77D 62.2 −0.3 N89D 63.6 1.1 50S92T 64.4 1.9 25 S113D 62.8 0.3 S113N 64.0 1.5 L225F 61.6 −0.9 P227A64.8 2.3 49 P227L 65.2 2.7 45 D249K 64.0 1.5 39 T255P 64.4 1.9 35 S279N62.4 −0.1 ~95 E295K 64.0 1.5 ~95 T332K 63.3 0.8 37 T332Y 63.3 0.8 37T332H 62.7 0.2 64 F338Y 60.8 −1.7 ~95 G430F 61.7 −0.8 L288F 62.4 −0.1A299E 61.2 −1.3 N301K 63.5 1.0 T356L 62.6 0.1 D257E 61.8 −0.7 45 V393G61.7 −0.8 43 S297T 63.3 0.8 31 T41I plus deletion @ T445 64.2 1.7T246C/Y371C 65.0 2.5 S196T/S411F 65.3 2.8 27 E295K/S398T 63.9 1.4 36V403D/T462I 64.5 2 53 A112E/T226A 63.5 1.0 A68T/G440R/P491L 63.1 0.6 32G22D/S278P/T296P 63.6 1.1 T246A/R251A/Y252A 63.5 1.0 T380G/Y381D/R394A58.1 −4.4 Y252Q/D259W/S342Y 59.9 −2.6 50 S113T/T255P/K286M 63.8 1.3 16P227L/E325K/Q487L 64.5 2.0 22 P227T/T484S/F352L 64.2 1.7 45Q17L/E193V/M213I/F352L 64.0 1.5 34 S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N 64.5 2.0 90S8P/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L 66.0 3.5 86 T41I/A112E/P227L/S278P/T296P 66.13.6 48 S8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/T226A 64.6 2.1 46 S8P/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227L65.2 2.7 32 S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/A112E/P227L 67.6 5.1 40G22D/N49S/A68T/P227L/S278P/T296P 65.9 3.4 26G22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/P227L/S278P/ 65.3 2.8 72 T296PG22D/N49S/A68T/N103I/A112E/P227L/S278P/ 65.1 2.6 20 T296PG22D/N49S/N64D/A68T/N103I/S113N/S278P/ 61.4 −1.1 75 T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/ 68.8 6.3 56 P227L/S278P/T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/ 69.0 6.5 71 P227L/D249K/S278P/T296PS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/ 68.7 6.2 70 P227L/S278P/T296P/N301RS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/N103I/S113N/ 68.8 6.3 74P227L/D249K/S278P/T296P/N301R S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/ 69.97.4 88 D249K/S278P/T296P/N301R S8P/T41I/N49S/S57N/A68T/S113N/P227L/ 68.96.4 ~100 D249K/S278P/T296P/N301R S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S113N/P227L/68.7 6.2 92 D249K/S278P/N301R S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/ 68.86.3 ~100 D249K/V403D/T462I S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/ 68.5 6.0~100 P227L/D249K/V403D/T462I S8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/P227L/ 68.66.1 ~100 D249K/S411F S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/ 69.5 7.0 ~100P227L/D249K/S411F S8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/ 70.7 8.2 ~100S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/ N301R/E325K/S411FS8P/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/S196T/ 71.0 8.5 ~100P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/N301R/ E325K/V403D/S411F/T462IS8P/G22D/T41I/N49S/A68T/S92T/S113N/ 70.9 8.4 ~100S196T/P227L/D249K/T255P/S278P/T296P/ N301R/E325K/V403D/S411F/T462I

Various modifications and variations of the described methods and systemof the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although theinvention has been described in connection with specific preferredembodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimedshould not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed,various modifications of the described modes for carrying out theinvention which are obvious to those skilled in molecular biology orrelated fields are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A nucleic acid encoding a Hypocrea jecorina CBH Ivariant consisting essentially of an amino acid sequence having at least96.4% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2,having CBH I cellulase activity, and comprising one or more amino acidsubstitutions selected from the group consisting of Q17L, G22D, T41I,N49S, S57N, A68T, A77D, S92T, N103I, A112E, S113(T/N/D), E193V, S196T,M213I, P227(L/T/A), T246(C/A), D249K, Y252(A/Q), T255P, D257E, D259W,S278P, S279N, K286M, L288F, E295K, T296P, S297T, N301(R/K), E325K,T332(K/Y/H), F338Y, S342Y, F352L, T356L, Y371C, T380G, Y381D, V393G,S398T, V403D, S411F, G430F, G440R, T462I, T484S, Q487L, and P491L. 25.The nucleic acid of claim 64, wherein the CBH1 variant comprises one ormore amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting ofN49S, A68T, A77D, S92T, S113(N/D), P227(A/L/T), D249K, T255P, D257E,S279N, L288F, E295K, S297T, N301(R/K), T332(K/Y/H), F338Y, T356L, V393G,and G430F.
 26. A vector comprising a nucleic acid of claim
 24. 27. Ahost cell transformed with the vector of claim
 26. 28. A method ofproducing a CBH I variant comprising the steps of: (a) culturing thehost cell according to claim 27 in a suitable culture medium undersuitable conditions to produce a CBH I variant; and (b) obtaining saidproduced CBH I variant.
 29. A recombinant filamentous fungal cellengineered to be capable of expressing a CBH I variant encoded by thenucleic acid of claim
 24. 30. A method of producing a CBH I variantcomprising the steps of: (a) culturing the recombinant filamentousfungal cell according to claim 29 in a suitable culture medium undersuitable conditions to express a CBH I variant; and (b) obtaining saidCBH I variant.